Sports psychology

• What is a skill?


  a learned action or behaviour
• What is ability?


  an inherited, stable trait that determines an individuals potential to learn or acquire a skill
• What is a trait?


  distinguishing qualities or characteristics belonging to a person
• What is a basic skill?

  a simple skill that does not require much concentration
• What is a complex skill?

  a skill that requires a great deal of concentration and coordination to perform
• What is a open skill?


  a skill that is performed in a certain way to deal with changing or unstable environment
• What is a closed skill?


  a skill that is not effected by the environment or performers within it, it tends to be done the same way each time
• What is a self-paced skill?


  a skill is started when the performer decides it, the speed rate or pace is controlled by the performer
• What is an externally-paced skill?


  a skill that is started because of an external factor, the speed rate or pace of a skill is controlled by external factor
• What is a gross movement skill?


  a skill that uses large muscle groups to perform big, strong, powerful movements
• What is a fine movement skill?


  a skill involving small, precise movements showing high levels of accuracy and coordination, involves use if small groups of muscles
• What is a performance goal?


  personal standards to be achieved, performers compare themselves against what they have already done
• What is an outcome goal?


  goals that focus on the end result, on winning
• What is a SMART target?


  a goal setting technique that can be used to increase motivation and reduce anxiety
• What does the S stand for in SMART?

  Specific: must be specific to demands of sport, muscles or movements used
• What does the M stand for in SMART?

  Measureable: must be possible tk measure whether specific target set has been met
• What does the A stand for in SMART?

  Accepted: must be accepted by the performer and others involved in training and competition
• What does the R stand for in SMART?

  Realistic: must actually be possible to complete and attain
• What does the T stand for in SMART?

  Time-bound: must cover a set period of time so performer knows whether they have achieved it or not
• The basic information processing model:

  1. Input - data received from display, use selective attention to focus on whats important
  2. Decision-making - data is analysed and appropriate response is selected using past experiences (short-term memory: stores up to 60s, long-term memory: well learned past experiences)
  3. Output - decision is acted on, information sent from brain to muscles to carry out response
  4. Feedback - data received in response to output
• What is guidance?


  a method of conveying information to performer
• What is feedback?


  information a performer receives in response to their performance
• What are the advantages to visual guidance?


  • useful for all level performers

  • especially good for beginners

  • vision is most peoples dominant sense

  • allows perfomers to see what is required

  • specific aspects of a whole skill can be observed

  • performers can copy what they see
• What are the disadvantages of visual guidance?


  • demonstration or image must be good quality

  • some skills are to complex to demonstrate

  • not effective if perfomers are not paying attention
• What are the advantages of verbal guidance?


  • useful for higher level performers

  • good way fo highlighting key teaching points

  • useful for sharing basic information and instructions

  • questioning can make performer think
• What are the disadvantages of verbal guidance?


  • can result in information overload

  • can be boring

  • sport areas are often noisy, making it hard to hear guidance

  • complex things can be hard to explain verbally
• What are the advantages of manual guidance?


  • good for beginners

  • allows performer to develop thr correct feel
• What are the disadvantages of manual guidance?


  • movement can feel different when some is moving you

  • performer may not think they are actually performing skill themselves
• What are the advantages of mechanical guidance?


  • good for potentially dangerous skills

  • allow performer to gain a feel for the movement without fear

  • good for building confidence
• What are the disadvantages of mechanical guidance?


  • equipment may be expensive

  • performer can become reliant on aid
• What is knowledge of results feedback?


  provides information about their placing or time in tournament or race
• What is knowledge of performance feedback?


  provides information about their performance in generally and their technique specifically
• What is extrinsic feedback?


  received about performance from outside themsleves
• What is intrinsic feedback?


  feedback about performance from within
• What is kinaesthetic feedback?


  a from of intrinsic feedback, the sensations generated by movements that are felt by performers
• What is arousal?


  a physical and metal state of alertness/readiness varying to deep sleep to intense excitement or alertness
• How can you manage arousal levels?


  • deep breathing

  • mental rehearsal

  • visualisation/imagery

  • positive self talk
• How does deep breathing help manage arousal?


  taking slow deep breaths can calm breathing and return it to regular rhythm and increases supply of oxygen to brain helping it to limit arousal
• What does mental rehearsal involve?


  rehearsing a successful performance in your mind before doing it for real
• What does visualisation/imagery involve?


  imagining a positive outcome such as standing on winner podium or a relaxing experience to calm nerves