Coping & Management Strategies in various situations

Intro… Resources come in a variety of forms: Network of supporters Clear goals Role models Use of diaries/ training logs to track progress Development of psychological skills Development of personal qualities The athlete must make sure they have the resources and are equipped to deal with the pressures they face, with being a professional

A Mentor is a person you trust that has experience Often they are an older player who is able to offer advice and guidance. - Sometimes they are termed a ‘coach’ as they coach you to deal with the issues you are experiencing. They will make you conscious of where you are, where you want to be and how you are going to get there. They will listen and step back from the situation, allowing you to find preventative solutions to your problems. The mentor would need to have specific experience in the behavioural issues in the areas that need to be developed For example a reformed alcoholic player would be good for someone who is having drink problems. The mentor will need to be honest if this method is going to work. Mentoring & Coaching

Group discussions A coach may find it beneficial to set up regular group discussion meetings. Group discussions allow athletes to express their views on a range of problems, such as team work, tactics and selection policy. Open discussions allow players to feel part of the overall process, and may iron out team issues. Specific support groups or networks may also be useful for different problems. For example, a player who has an issue with gambling may go to a gambling support group, where specific tailored help can be given.

Lifestyle changes This could be anything from altering the friends you hang out with and what you do in your spare time to changing your eating habits. This may have a significant effect on some areas of behaviour.

Routines Humans have routines or strategies that they follow in daily life. This will include the way you get up, get washed and get ready for the day. This is often done in much the same manner on each day. Consistent lateness or forgetting of kit etc can be effectively dealt with by changing routines. Managing our lives effectively means developing effective routines to produce a positive outcome , coaching can help athletes change their routines… and lifestyle.

Other areas you could use… Goal setting – By setting clear goals to improve behaviour, you will start to improve in specific situations. This is particularly true if there is a strategy on how you are going to achieve these goals. Use of diaries – Keeping a record is very useful, as you can see how you have reached where you are. Often this is used to support other areas such as mentoring, group support and Psychological Skills. Using a psychological Skills Training programme – Particularly if there are specific issues, such as controlling aggression, confidence or arousal. There are a number of strategies that could be used to improve behaviour in specific situations.

Behaviour in certain situation… Athletes can find themselves in a variety of situations: On the sports field Off the sports field Dealing with the media Dealing with the general public (both supportive/ hostile) Dealing with sport-related people (sponsors/ agents/ coaches) Athletes have to present themselves within an appropriate manner, in order to avoid confrontation and creating negative attention for themselves…

Assessment… Example SITUATIONS: 1: On and off the sports pitch or area: during competitions, during training, travel to and from sports pitch or area 2: dealing with the media: television, radio, press 3: dealing with the public: disruptive and aggressive fans 4: dealing with others: employers, match officials, club/regional/national coaches, agents, managers, sponsors, other team colleagues 5: Addictions: Drugs, alcohol, gambling A more creative approach would be to encourage learners to develop their own scenarios and then description and application. The three different situations for P3 should be contrasting enough to ensure strategies described are varied and cover a breadth of content.

Coping strategies: Possible situations: Mentoring & Coaching Group discussions One on one seminars Lifestyle changes Routines Goal setting Diaries Psychological skills training programme Using the coping strategies that we have gone through, select 3 situations (ones given or of your own) and describe how the athlete should behave in the situation… and the strategy they could use in order to deal with the situation in the best possible manner. For example how could you deal with an addiction? Possible situations: An addiction Getting over aroused on the pitch Disruptive fans Conduct during a competition…