Being physically trained to perfection does not always guarantee success. Performers also need to be psychologically prepared. Athletes need to be able to cope with losing as well as winning and be able to draw the positives from a poor performance.

 This gives the performer the energy to accomplish something and it can come from internal and external sources.  Internal or intrinsic motivation comes from the sports performer themselves.  External or extrinsic motivation comes in the form of more obvious rewards.

 The table below gives examples of each type of motivation. IntrinsicExtrinsic Personal PrideFinancial reward The will to winPublic acclaim A need to be a winnerA better lifestyle Wanting to be the bestA cup or a trophy

 Many sports coaches believe that intrinsic motivation is more important than extrinsic motivation.  This is because a person who has the desire to succeed is more likely to continue to want to improve, even when they have achieved their initial goal.  A person who is largely motivated by extrinsic factors will often become bored once they have achieved their initial goal.

 Coaches will always try to look for the positives in a performance and use this to maintain intrinsic motivation.  Positive reinforcement from the coach will enable a player to continue to work hard and maintain their level of motivation.

 A term used to describe a person’s state of mind and covers a continuum stretching from deep sleep through to extreme excitement!  It is very closely linked to motivation and controlling both of these is often the key to achieving sporting success.  A player’s arousal level describes their level of enthusiasm and commentators will often talk about players being ‘in the zone’ or ‘away with the fairies’! Deep Sleep Extreme excitement

 The most common understanding of arousal is based on the inverted ‘U’ theory When a player is under aroused their level of performance will often be too low, and they may show a lack of interest. When a player is over aroused, their performance levels may also deteriorate because they are trying too hard and therefore make mistakes.

 The term used to describe feelings of worry, concern and apprehension.  Can be classified as ‘trait anxiety’ where a person is anxious all of the time and in everything they do.  Can be classified as ‘state anxiety’ where a person’s level of apprehension fluctuates according to the situation.  Of these types – ‘state anxiety’ is more likely to exist in a sporting situation.

 Usually exists because the performer feels unable to cope with a situation.  They may feel their opponent is better than them, or the size of the crowd, or the importance of the event.  A small amount of anxiety is a good thing to help performers focus on an event and can motivate them.  However, too much anxiety, leads to over- arousal which can then lead to a poor performance.

 Coaches often try to reduce a player’s feelings of anxiety by: › Imagery – getting the player to close their eyes and imagine being in a peaceful environment or performing well. › Thought Stopping – stopping the player for verbalising any negative thoughts. › Positive Talking – getting the player to repeat phrases such as ‘I’m the best’ and ‘I can do this’ over and over. › Muscular Relaxation – player’s are given a relaxation massage before an event to try and remove tension which can tighten the muscles.

 ‘Personality is the sum total of an individuals characteristics which make him unique’ (Edwin P. Hollander)  Everyone is unique and different but people generally fall into one of two broad categories: › Introverts – shy, timid, reserved, happy in their own company and self-sufficient › Extroverts – adventurous, confident, sociable, enthusiastic, happiest in group situations

 Coaches should use their knowledge of a player’s personality type to motivate them towards achieving their goal.  E.g. an extrovert is often at risk of becoming over-aroused so a coach may using calming music to help them relax. An introvert may be at risk of under arousal so a different style of music may be more suitable for them.

 A performer requires concentration and focus on the most relevant cues and to ignore those cues that are irrelevant.  Mistakes made by professional players are more likely to occur due to a lack of focus rather than a problem with technique. E.g. a double fault by Andy Murray.

 Coaches will often prepare a player for competition by encouraging them to use ‘selective attention’. Practice often takes place in a noisy, busy environment, with various cues thrown in to confuse the player, which helps them learn to focus their attention on the things that matter.