Sports psych - competition strategies

What do competition strategies provide an athlete with?

Enough information/direction to fill the time of competition

• Give the athlete the direction they need to maximise their performance, maintain concentration & meet situational challenges

What are common elements of competition strategies?

• Your/team’s game plan

• Performance reference points/checks

• Task relevant factors

• Mood/cue words

Your/team’s game plan:

• Set plays

• Game/race plan (pacing)

• Positional roles to be followed & the responsibilities involved

Performance reference points/checks:

• Pre-planned moments to assess and adjust strategy

• Helps maintain focus on performance (not just results)

Task relevant factors

Mental focus points that reinforce technique under pressure

• These are the fundamentals of mental preparation for competition need to be carried into the contest

• Enhance mental rehearsal & visualisation by identifying technique/performance components which are essential for quality performance

Mood/cue words:

Words that convey more than their meaning that are used during competition

• During competition, mood or cue words can encourage renewed or maximum effort, especially during times of fatigue or necessary, massive exertion