Part 3: Psych Readiness for Competition (?)

• WHY consider psychological readiness for competition?

  • Comparison is public
  • Knowledgeable audience, judging you & if don’t meet standards embarrassing/stressful (if important to you)
  • Can pour more stress if already have some as an adolescence 
• WHY consider psychological readiness for competition?

  • Comparison is public
  • Knowledgeable audience, judging you & if don’t meet standards embarrassing/stressful (if important to you)
  • Can pour more stress if already have some as an adolescence 
• Psych Readiness for Competition - Social Comparison & Competition 

  • Competition = is a comparison process; young children (< 9yrs) can’t and do not compete (like adults).
  • Are easily distracted 
  • Not psychologically mature yet for tactics & strategy so hover around the ball
  • Can make more stressful if can’t escape scrutiny 
  • Sport competition offers this opportunity . . . 
  •  . . . BUT . . . 
• Psych Readiness for Competition - Social Comparison & Competition 

  • Adult rules spoil the fun, comparing himself (what is success)
  • Can cause unintended consequences 
  • Why have changed rules, equipment to make it easier for kids to be successful
• Cognitive Readiness for Competition

  • Young children (5-9 yrs) are NOT to fully participate in organised competitive sport. (Passer, 1986; Roberts, 1980)
  • e.g. ‘beehive’ soccer, netball, rugby, hockey etc.
  • Children do not develop a mature understanding of ‘competition’ until approx 10 - 12 yrs.
  • →  Need progressive intro of competition (eg., KiwiSport).
• Cognitive Readiness for Competition

  • When are they mature enough to understand competition
  • If succeed, but if you win means someone else failed/loss
  • Young children (5-9 yrs) are NOT to fully participate in organised competitive sport. (Passer, 1986; Roberts, 1980)
  • e.g. ‘beehive’ soccer, netball, rugby, hockey etc.
  • Children do not develop a mature understanding of ‘competition’ until approx 10 - 12 yrs.
  • →  Need progressive intro of competition (eg., KiwiSport).
• Cognitive Readiness for Competition

  • Young children (5-9 yrs) are NOT to fully participate in organised competitive sport. (Passer, 1986; Roberts, 1980)
  • e.g. beehive soccer, netball, rugby, hockey etc.
  • Despite best efforts, don’t understand structure of sport such as position, tactics, strategies etc (unrealistic to expect this)
  • Not saying shouldn’t play sport & that their shouldn’t be some element of competition 
  • Don’t need to have reps
  • Don’t need to use adult form of competition (mini adult game)
• Cognitive Readiness for Competition

  • Children do not develop a mature understanding of ‘competition’ until approx 10 - 12 yrs.
  • Not every 12 (15 yr old etc) yr old is equal w/ physical & psych development, so is tricky to put a number on it 
  • When can fairly safely add more adults form of competition (altered/modified versions/games earlier on than this age)
• Cognitive Readiness for Competition

  • →  Need progressive intro of competition (eg., KiwiSport)
  • Rules simpler, bigger equipment, adjust court size etc 
  • Easier to be successful & improve their skills
  • Not mentally ready for adult version of competition
• Examples: Improve Youth Sport

  • To bring fun & development as focus 
  • Push back on specialisation (in particular sport)
  • Doesn’t hurt development 
  • Stop picking representative teams Under age of 13 
  • Participation rates have gone up
• Example: Country most successful at Olympics = Norway

  • Don’t keep score or competitive score until highschool 
  • Doesn't hurt ability to get medals - at elite level
  • Large participation levels 
  • Don’t need adult versions at child level to achieve success