Sport psych

Learning goals We are learning the important role of the mental aspect of performance. We are learning to identify different styles of coaching. We are learning to identify the different roles of coaches.

Let’s define it … Psychology is … the scientific study of the thought processes, feelings and behavior of humans and other animals in their interaction with the environment Sport psychology… is this study placed within context of sports how people think, feel and behave in sporting situations and what mental processes motivate the way they behave in training and competition

Try this Think of an instance where you have experienced or witnessed someone who is “in the zone”. What characteristics does this person have while s/he is in this moment? What are they like?

Ideal performance state Psychologists call it the “ideal performance state”: Complete absence of doubt and fear of failure Lack of critical thought of performance Narrow focus of attention; little or no distraction Sense of effortlessness Powerful feelings of being “in control” Feeling that “time has stood still” Little or no fatigue: could “go forever” AKA: “In the zone”, “auto-pilot”, “nailed routine”; Combining right mental commands with flawless physical execution…

The other half is physical.” “Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.” —Yogi Berra, a former professional baseball player, famous for his unique turns of phrase (malapropisms)

“You can do all the jumps in the world, but if you can’t do them under pressure, you won’t be successful.” — Elizabeth Manley, Canadian figure skating champion and Olympic bronze medallist.

Performance enhancing mental skills Self-talk Imagery/Visualization Relaxation/Arousal Regulation Improving Motivation Developing Concentration and Coping Strategies

1. Self talk internal monologue or self-talk that goes through your mind, urging you to achieve success needs to be positive to be effective can facilitate relaxation and focus “I’ve prepared the best I can.” or “I have the ability to perform well today.”

2. Imagery/visualization athlete visualizes or imagines herself succeeding visualizing calming scenarios to achieve certain mental state athletes who benefit are ones who believe it works Phelps

3. Relaxation/arousal regulation nervousness and anxiety are not always conducive to top-level performance these techniques involve: breathing control exercises progressive relaxation exercises meditation imagery neurofeedback training in which athletes learn to produce desirable brainwave patterns

Key Terms in Sport Psychology Anxiety the ‘bad’ feelings during a performance: apprehension, general sense of uncertainty, muscular tension, “butterflies” must be limited or controlled in order to perform well Arousal the ‘good’ feelings during a performance: being “psyched up”, athlete feels ready both physically and psychologically to be very best allows athlete to perform at high levels during competition

4. Improving motivation Extrinsic factors: material rewards—e.g., medals, trophies, money—for which participants can strive. Intrinsic factors: goals that are more intangible and self-oriented, such as a desire to master a skill, the love of competition, or a focus on having fun.

5. Developing concentration and coping skills concentration hinges on being able to maintain focus in the face of distractions duplicate potential distractions in practice settings use of positive “cue words” to help athletes stay focussed

“Everyone Needs a Rousing Pep Talk.” Bust a move … or myth “Everyone Needs a Rousing Pep Talk.” the media is full of tales of coaches delivering powerful motivational speeches to their athletes just before a big game or event the opposite is often true … many athletes simply require help in relaxing and quietly focussing their mind prior to competition

Sport Psychology: The Inverted-U Hypothesis

LTAD and Mental fitness “Throughout an athlete’s lifespan, there is a heavy focus on physical and technical development; however, when pressure mounts, it is often the mental fitness factor that can have the biggest impact on performance outcomes.” “Mental Fitness for Long-Term Athlete Development,” Canadian Sport for Life, 2014.

Mental fitness an athlete’s ability to regulate thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in order to cope with pressure, maximize performance and maintain mental well-being.

Mental fitness helps an athlete maximize performance engage in quality training maintain a healthy level of mental well-being requires deliberate practice self talk imagery feeling habits

The coach

Ultimate coach?? What trait/s make a great coach? Is there one single trait or is it more complex than that?

What does a coach do? encourages athletes to be active and to have fun plans purposeful practice sessions and creates engaging activities leads participants in developing motor skills helps participants improve their performance through constructive criticism and advice manages problems by making ethical and respectful decisions enables safe participation by creating a safe environment teaches others how to respect themselves, others, and their sport

Skills needed knowing how to communicate with athletes understanding basic training principles understanding the limitations of young athletes teaching athletes safe practices recognizing causes and symptoms of overtraining knowing how to reduce the risk of injury developing suitable training schedules evaluating athletes to monitor progress advising athletes on diet and nutrition

The Five Coaching Styles A continuum… Authoritarian emphasizes discipline, teams characterized by spirit when winning but dissention when losing, may be feared or disliked by some athletes…. ‘my way’ Business-Like logical approach, well planned, organized, expects top effort at all times…structure and reasoning are keys here

Intense emphasizes winning above all, high anxiety often translated to players, may alienate easy-going athletes Easy-Going causal approach, ‘Let’s just go out and have fun’, may not be prepared to “push” athletes, usually well liked Nice “Guy” usually well-liked, some may take advantage of this coach; but may alienate intense athletes…’whatever you guys want to do’

Another way to look at coaching…. Democratic athletes make suggestions about training/competition, and coach bases plans based on athlete suggestions. also, s/he allows athletes to brainstorm possible approaches and coach ultimately implements suggestions. Autocratic athletes have no input on training and/or competition, coach is definitely the boss and in charge.

Learning goals We are learning the important role of the mental aspect of performance. We are learning to identify different styles of coaching. We are learning to identify the different roles of coaches.

Coach activity Choose one of the coaches off the list. Research the following answers: For what sport is this coach best known? Which one of the coaching styles outlined in our notes does she or he demonstrate? Is this coach best described as autocratic or democratic? How does this coach motivate athletes? Provide examples from actual competitions to support your answer.