Concentration, Choking, and Positive Youth Development in Sports

This set of flashcards includes key concepts, definitions, and questions derived from lecture notes on concentration, choking, and positive youth development in sports, designed to aid in exam preparation.

What is concentration in sport psychology?

The ability to exert deliberate mental effort on what is most important in any given situation.

What are the four components of attention?

1. Selective attention 2. Maintaining attentional focus over time 3. Situational awareness 4. Attentional flexibility

What is selective attention?

Focusing on relevant cues, often external, to improve automaticity and performance.

What challenges affect maintaining attentional focus over time?

Duration of event, mental fatigue, breaks in action, and competing relevant cues.

What is situational awareness?

Ability to size up the situation, anticipate actions, and make decisions; more critical in open-skill sports.

What is attentional flexibility?

The ability to alter scope and focus of attention as task demands change.

Why do attention errors occur?

Because attention is a limited resource; errors include being too broad, wrong direction, or too narrow.

What is attentional alertness?

Increased arousal leads to narrowed focus, inappropriate cue selection, and worry-based distractions.

What are internal distracters?

Past mistakes, future worries, fatigue, lack of motivation, and overanalyzing body mechanics.

What are external distracters?

Visual cues (scoreboard, cameras, fans) and auditory cues (announcements, crowd noise).

What is choking?

A significant performance decrement in high-pressure situations due to attentional and physical changes.

What are the Yips?

A psychoneuromuscular condition causing sudden loss of ability to perform basic motor skills under pressure.

How can self-talk improve concentration?

By focusing attention, stopping negative thoughts, and reinforcing positive, task-relevant thinking.

What strategies improve concentration?

Simulations, cue words, nonjudgmental thinking, routines, and competition plans.

Why study youth sport?

Because 44 million children participate annually; participation peaks at ages 10–13, then declines until 18.

What are the benefits of youth sport participation?

Improved physical health, psychological health, social connection, school performance, and life skills.

What are the 5 C’s of Positive Youth Development?

Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, Caring/Compassion.

Why do children play sports?

To have fun, learn skills, and be fit.

Why do children drop out of sports?

Lack of fun, other priorities, poor coaching, and negative peer interactions.

What are underlying motives for sport participation?

Perceived competence, relatedness, autonomy, and stress levels.

What is early specialization?

Year-round intensive training, participation in only one sport, and starting before puberty (~age 12).

What is the 10,000-hour rule?

A misinterpreted idea that elite performance requires 10,000 hours of practice; not supported as sole determinant.

What are negative outcomes of early specialization?

Injuries, burnout, reduced long-term participation, and acquisition of bad habits.

What is the IOC’s position on specialization?

Children who play multiple sports and specialize after puberty perform better, get injured less, and stay in sport longer.

Does sport build character?

It can, but moral disengagement (cheating, foul play, insults) is also common.

What are the three approaches to moral development?

1. Social Learning Theory 2. Structural-Developmental Approach 3. Social-Psychological Approach

What is hazing?

Any activity expected of someone joining a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them.

What is bullying in sport?

Repeated harmful behavior with intent to harm; includes player-to-player, coach-to-player, and parent-to-player.

How to combat hazing and bullying?

Clear policies, trained personnel, education of staff, parents, and athletes.

What strategies promote character development?

Defining and reinforcing good behavior, discussing dilemmas, and creating autonomy-supportive environments.