13JAN2025 Lecture

Class Introduction

  • Instructor: Kristen Hofner (often referred to as Coach Hoff)
    • 23 years at ASU
    • Background in sports psychology, focusing on sport and performance psychology
    • Teaching professor and assistant dean
  • Class focus: Sport and performance psychology
  • Icebreaker activity at the start of class
    • Students share their name, year in school, major, and three defining traits.

Course Structure

  • The course is an upper-division elective for KIN students and a required course for sports science students.
  • KIN101 prerequisite removed to accommodate a broader range of students.
  • Variety of majors enrolled in the class; engagement with multiple disciplines outside of movement sciences.

Instructor Background

  • Kristen's personal engagement in sports; experiences in CrossFit, boxing, and Peloton.
  • Strong allegiance to the University of Michigan, where she completed her undergraduate degree.
  • Recent engagement in hosting family and friends during the break, sharing personal anecdotes.

Co-Instructor Introduction

  • Coach: 33 years of coaching experience, 25 years at ASU, retired in 2022.
    • Currently involved with the Mercury organization (WNBA) as a scout, broadcaster, and instructor.
    • Writing a book of pregame talks, aiming to capture effective strategies in motivating players.
    • Emphasis on the mental aspects of performance in sports, sharing stories and insights from personal experiences.

Course Methodology and Expectations

  • The course will involve in-class activities regularly, fostering immersion.
  • Student participation is essential; activities will contribute to their overall participation points.
  • Emphasis on being present and engaging during class sessions.
  • Students encouraged to assist one another and build professional networks within the field.

Introduction to Sport and Performance Psychology

  • Focus on mental preparation and performance optimization rather than just physical training.
    • Connection to various fields such as military, surgery, and first responders.
    • The significance of mental routines in various professions, comparable to athletes' pre-performance routines.
  • Example: Simone Biles' experience with the twisties during the Olympics highlighting the mental frame necessary for performance.

Academic Focus Areas

  • Sport Psychology: Investigates mental techniques that enhance performance in athletic settings.
  • Exercise Psychology: Explores how exercise benefits overall mental health and cognitive function.
  • Health Psychology: Centers on behavior change aimed at improving health outcomes.
  • Course goal: Equip students with a toolbox of mental strategies for optimal performance.

Core Course Values

  1. Positivity: Encouragement to bring a positive attitude; being mindful of the energy one's demeanor brings to others.
  2. Respect: Importance of respecting diverse opinions and fostering a safe environment for discussion.
  3. Effective Communication: Urges students to communicate needs and issues clearly and promptly.

Attendance Policy

  • In-person attendance is mandatory; participation during class activities is critical to gaining insights from those sessions.
  • Flexibility provided for excused absences; students are encouraged to communicate proactively if they will miss class.
  • Makeup tokens allowed for a limited number of missed activities; limited opportunities for make-up assignments to ensure active participation.

Assessment and Grading Structure

  • Exams:
    • Three mini-exams (20 questions each) non-cumulative.
    • One cumulative final exam reviewing the entire course content and key principles.
  • Assignments:
    • Journals reflecting on themes discussed in class.
    • Case studies and group projects with a focus on practical applications of course content.
    • Discussions on assigned reading materials related to sport and performance psychology.

Reading Materials

  • Recommended texts and articles to broaden understanding of course topics. Specific focus on qualitative research associated with elite performance.
  • Texts and articles aid in connecting theoretical knowledge with practical applications.

Journaling Component

  • Students required to maintain a journal throughout the semester, focusing on prompts related to personal experiences and reflections on course concepts.
  • Journals evaluated based on length and engagement with provided prompts, emphasizing personal reflection.

Final Project Overview

  • Group presentations analyzing concepts from class, culminating activity aimed at bridging theory with practical application in sports psychology.
  • Integration of class learnings in a creative presentation format.

Future Class Preview

  • Next class to cover important literature on mental toughness, engaging with both positive and potentially negative implications of mental resilience in sports and other performance settings.