Sports Psychology Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from sports psychology lecture notes.

Open Skill

Performed in changing environments, reacting to external factors.

Closed Skill

Performed in a predictable environment, using the same action.

Gross Skill

Powerful movements by large muscle groups.

Fine Skill

Precise movements by smaller muscle groups.

Self-Paced Skill

Timing controlled by the performer.

Externally-Paced Skill

Timing affected by external factors.

Skill

A learned action to bring about the result you want with certainty and minimum effort.

Ability

A person’s set of traits that control their potential to learn a skill.

Basic (Simple) Skill

Quick to learn, as it doesn’t need much thought or decision-making.

Complex Skill

Needs lots of decision-making, so requires thought and coordination.

Performance Goals

To improve your performance.

Outcome Goals

Focused on the end result only.

SMART Goals

Specific, Measurable, Accepted, Realistic, Time-bound

Verbal Guidance

Guidance given in words.

Visual Guidance

Guidance given visually, e.g. videos or demonstrations.

Mechanical Guidance

Guidance using equipment.

Manual Guidance

When a coach physically moves your body through a technique.

Intrinsic Feedback

Kinaesthetic, i.e. what it ‘felt’ like.

Extrinsic Feedback

Feedback from someone else.

Positive Feedback

What went well.

Negative Feedback

What could be improved.

Input (Information Processing Model)

Receive information from the environment.

Decision Making (Information Processing Model)

Decide how to respond to the input.

Output (Information Processing Model)

Muscles react to messages from the brain.

Feedback (Information Processing Model)

Receive feedback to improve the skill next time.

Direct Aggression

Involves physical contact with another person.

Indirect Aggression

Aiming aggression at an object, e.g. the ball.

Introverts

Like being alone; prefer sports they can do on their own, requiring fine skills and low arousal.

Extroverts

More sociable; usually prefer team sports that are fast-paced and use gross skills.

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivation from enjoyment/good feelings.

Extrinsic Motivation

Motivation through rewards from others; can be tangible (e.g., trophy) or intangible (e.g., applause).

Arousal

How mentally and physically alert you are.

Ideal Arousal Level

Determined and ready; able to perform well.

High Arousal

Anxious, nervous or over-aggressive; performance may suffer.

Low Arousal

Not very excited; unlikely to perform well.