Sport and exercise psychology is the systematic scholarly study of the behaviours, feelings, and thoughts of people engaged in sport, exercise, and physical activity.
Why Sport and Exercise Psychology?
Helps coaches understand the psychological impact on behavior and performance.
Aids in understanding athlete commitment.
Helps identify reasons for athletes dropping out.
Assists in modifying sport and exercise programs.
Overview of Knowledge
Exercise Adherence
Personality
Motivation
Anxiety and Arousal
Goal Setting
Self -Talk
Nature of Imagery
Burnout
Exercise Adherence
Focuses on factors influencing the start and continuation of physical activity.
Key theories:
Classic Learning Theories
Health Belief Model
Transtheoretical Model
Social Cognitive Theory
Selected Theories and Models Of Health Behavior Change
Classic Learning Theory: Focus on reinforcement, rewards, and punishments.
Health Belief Model: Behavior influenced by beliefs about health conditions and benefits of action.
Social Cognitive Theory: Behavior change is influenced by environmental and personal factors.
Relationship between personality and athletic performance.
Effects of sport on personality: Moral development and prosocial behaviors must be modeled.
Effects of exercise on personality: Enhanced self-concept, psychological well-being, decreased anxiety and depression.
Motivation
Motivation is a complex set of internal and external forces that directs and energizes our behavior (choice, effort, and persistence) in sport and exercise.
Humans are motivated to feel competent and self-determining.
Anxiety and Arousal
Trait vs. State anxiety
Trait: integral part of an individual’s personality.
State: emotional response to a specific situation that results in feelings of fear, tension, or apprehension.
Find the optimal level of arousal that allows for peak performance.
Reducing Anxiety
Use physical activity (warm-ups) to release stress and anxiety.
Develop pre competition routines.
Simulate games in practice to rehearse skills and strategies.
Tailor preparation for the competition to the individual athlete.
Build self-confidence and high, but realistic expectations.
Keep errors in perspective.
Goal Setting
Important in physical education, exercise science, and sport leadership.
Used as a motivational and behavioral change strategy.
Types of Goal
Outcome goal: Focus on interpersonal comparison and the end result.
Performance goal: Refer to individual’s actual performance in relation to personal levels of achievement.
Process goal: Focus on how a particular skill is performed.
SMART Goals
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
Self-Talk
Self-talk occurs whenever an individual thinks, whether making statements internally or externally.
Positive self-talk enhances self-confidence.
Types of Self-Talk
Task-relevant statements: reinforce technique.
Positive self-statements: encourages effort, persistence, or reinforces feelings of confidence.
Imagery and Simulation
Effective in improving performance.
Assists athletes in attaining goals.
Nature of Imagery
External imagery: See themselves performing.
Internal imagery: Image of performance from their own eyes.
Uses of Imagery
Learn and practice sport skills
Correction of errors
Rehearse performance strategies
Optimize mental focus
Enhancement of pre performance routines
Strengthen mental skills
Facilitate recovery from injury
Burnout
Feelings of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion
Negative moods and feelings (depression, despair)
Lack of accomplishment
Disillusioned with involvement; occurs when personality characteristics interact with life stressors