Sports Psychology BPS106

COURSE STRUCTURE

This subject has 8 lessons as follows:

1. Introduction

Performance Psychology, Exercise Psychology, Environmental Influences, Aspects of Sports Psychology, Applying Sports Psychology.

 

2. Psychological Traits of Successful Athletes

Personality Inventory, Cognitive Techniques.

State of Mind.

 

3. Anxiety & Arousal, Anxiety, Physiology of Anxiety, Psychology of Anxiety, Arousal, How to Maximise Psychological State, Focusing (or Centering).

 

4. Motivation

Motivation is the internal impulse that causes increasingly energetic action in a particular direction. Basic Principles, Intrinsic Motivation, Extrinsic Motivation Factors Affecting Motivation, Movitation for fun, Slimming for fun.

 

5. Aggression

Mental Rehearsal, Error Parking, Using Self Consciousness, Word Association, Anger, Conflict,Measuring Aggression, Simulated Practice, e-Event Procedure, Reliving Success, Positive, Conflict Handling Techniques.

 

6. Leadership & Coaching

A Coach’s Role, Getting Attention, Questioning, Punishment.

 

 7. Team Dynamics

Group cohesion,Forming, Storming,Norming,Performing, Traits of an Effective Team,

Suitable membership,Appropriate Leadership, Commitment to the Team, Concern for Achieving, Effective Work Methods, Well Organised Team Procedures, Ability To Take Criticism, Creative Strength, Positive Relationships, Positive Environment.

 

 8. Special Groups

Stress, Post Game/Season Evaluation, Gender Differences, Elite Female Athletes, Special Considerations with Female Athletes, Disabled Persons. Children, Readiness, Dropping out.

 

AIMS

• Describe the nature and scope of Sports Psychology
• Identify psychological traits found in successful athletes.
• Explain effects of state of mind on athletic performance.
• Recommend ways of maintaining or increasing motivation in an athlete.
• Differentiate between positive and negative application of aggressive emotions in sport.
• Discuss the role of leadership in sports coaching.
• Explain the impact on performance of psychological interactions within a sporting team.
• Describe variations in the sports psychology of different demographic groups.

Some Sample Course Notes

FACTORS AFFECTING THE TEAM ENVIRONMENT

Eight different dimensions of the team environment need to be considered:

1. Autonomy

The opportunity to function independent of the group leader. Autonomous athletes feel more comfortable if allowed to make decisions on their own; at least sometimes. Others may influence or guide but to retain a sense of autonomy, that influence must be subtle.

2. Support

Athletes need to feel emotional support from their trainer/coach and team members. A sense of caring and sharing is a fundamental psychological need in sport and any other life situation.

3. Pressure

In competitive sport, a sense of pressure to succeed is always present and for ultimate success, it needs to be present. Some stress or tension will be inevitable along with pressure; and the team environment may easily become “tight” or “anxious”. This atmosphere does need to be controlled: if it gets out of hand it can damage the team and affect performance; but without some pressure, the performance might not be as good either.

4. Recognition

Recognition by the coach, spectators, the opposing team, team mates etc, will strengthen the team.

5. Trust

Athletes need to trust the actions of each other in a team. The overall team outcome, and very often, an individual athlete’s well being, will depend upon the performance of the team mates.

6. Fairness

This is a perception that can vary from one person to another. One team member may think they are fair, and another think they are not fair. The coach’s perception can be different again. An athlete’s perception of fairness may be affected by:

A/ The degree of compatibility between 2 different people’s outlooks.

B/ The accuracy of communication between 2 people.

C/ Discrepancies in factual knowledge that the two people have.

If a difference of perception is identified between two team members, these three issues need to be examined in turn.

7. Innovation

Everything in this world changes, and in order to adapt to change, innovations need to be created and applied. There is a collective potential within a team that exceeds the potential of any one individual (e.g. a captain, trainer or coach); but in order to harness that collective potential, the team leadership must be willing to tolerate or even better, encourage creative input and innovation from all team members.

8. Cohesiveness

This is a measure of the overall sense of belonging to a team.

If you are interested in Sports Psychology, perhaps you might like to have a look at our Life Coaching Courses -