Psychology of CoachingPsychology of Coaching

Unit 1 VCE PEUnit 1 VCE PE

CoachesCoaches

All coaches need a good understanding of All coaches need a good understanding of sports psychology to ensure their athletes:sports psychology to ensure their athletes:

Maximise performanceMaximise performanceReach their potentialReach their potentialAre motivatedAre motivatedCan concentrateCan concentrateAre optimally aroused (inverted “U”) Are optimally aroused (inverted “U”)

CoachesCoaches

Are not too stressed or anxiousAre not too stressed or anxiousReceive appropriate feedbackReceive appropriate feedbackHave confidenceHave confidenceCan manage their timeCan manage their timeAccept responsibility for their actionsAccept responsibility for their actionsCan use mental imageryCan use mental imagery

CoachesCoaches

Have positive self- talkHave positive self- talkUse appropriate goal setting techniquesUse appropriate goal setting techniquesCan bond as a team and work togetherCan bond as a team and work together

MotivationMotivation

MotivationMotivation= an athlete’s reasons for = an athlete’s reasons for participation participation

There are There are 2 types2 types of motivators: of motivators:

1.1. Intrinsic (internal)Intrinsic (internal)2.2. Extrinsic (external)Extrinsic (external)

MotivationMotivation

Intrinsic motivation=Intrinsic motivation=FunFunSocial/ feeling of belongingSocial/ feeling of belongingSkill developmentSkill developmentFeel goodFeel goodSatisfactionSatisfactionFitness & healthFitness & healthStress release & relaxationStress release & relaxation

MotivationMotivation

Extrinsic motivation=Extrinsic motivation=Money $$$Money $$$Prizes & trophiesPrizes & trophiesFame & recognitionFame & recognition

ArousalArousal

Arousal= an athlete’s physical and mental Arousal= an athlete’s physical and mental readiness to perform. readiness to perform.

It can be demonstrated by the inverted “U” curveIt can be demonstrated by the inverted “U” curve

*Arousal levels of individuals in teams need to be *Arousal levels of individuals in teams need to be monitored closely by the coach as monitored closely by the coach as eacheach individual athleteindividual athlete has a has a different optimal level of different optimal level of arousalarousal

StressStress

StressStress is the result of a threatening is the result of a threatening situation.situation.Stress causes and elevated physical state Stress causes and elevated physical state in order to combat the stressor. in order to combat the stressor.

Stress causes:Stress causes:Increased heart rate, increased respiration, Increased heart rate, increased respiration,

increased body temp., increased blood increased body temp., increased blood pressure and sweatingpressure and sweating

AnxietyAnxiety

AnxietyAnxiety is an emotional reaction to a is an emotional reaction to a situation or eventsituation or event

Anxiety causes:Anxiety causes:UneasinessUneasinessConfusionConfusionWorryWorryPanic in the mindPanic in the mind

AdrenalinAdrenalin

AdrenalinAdrenalin is a hormone introduced to the is a hormone introduced to the bloodstream in times of stressbloodstream in times of stressIt usually causes an elevated state of It usually causes an elevated state of arousalarousalIt can also inhibit judgement and controlIt can also inhibit judgement and control

AttentionAttention

Attention is the ability to focus on a Attention is the ability to focus on a particular task or skillparticular task or skillCoaches can improve and athlete’s Coaches can improve and athlete’s attention by instructing them as to the attention by instructing them as to the important cues to focus uponimportant cues to focus uponThis ensures optimal levels of arousal, This ensures optimal levels of arousal, confidence and control over stress & confidence and control over stress & anxietyanxiety

AttentionAttention

Two Types of Distractions:Two Types of Distractions:

1.1. External=External=Umpires’ decisionsUmpires’ decisionsOpponents’ sledgingOpponents’ sledgingWeatherWeatherSpectatorsSpectators

AttentionAttention

2. Internal=2. Internal=

Negative self- talkNegative self- talkDwelling on previous mistakesDwelling on previous mistakesOver- analysing techniqueOver- analysing technique

Types of AttentionTypes of Attention

1. Broad External:1. Broad External:Assessing the environment to understand Assessing the environment to understand

things like the defence being used by the things like the defence being used by the opposition team or player, or field opposition team or player, or field positioning, etcpositioning, etc

Types of AttentionTypes of Attention

2. Broad Internal:2. Broad Internal:Assists in analysing the current situation and Assists in analysing the current situation and

devising a strategy or plan of actiondevising a strategy or plan of action

3. Narrow External:3. Narrow External:Ability to pay attention to the necessary cues Ability to pay attention to the necessary cues

at the right time with the right responseat the right time with the right response

Types of AttentionTypes of Attention

4. Narrow Internal:4. Narrow Internal:An athlete’s performance is enhanced by the An athlete’s performance is enhanced by the

ability to mentally rehearse a specific skill ability to mentally rehearse a specific skill involved in the task at hand.involved in the task at hand.

**This includes: self talk and the ability to **This includes: self talk and the ability to psych yourself up or calm yourself downpsych yourself up or calm yourself down

Mental ImageryMental Imagery

Thinking about or rehearsing physical Thinking about or rehearsing physical skills or situations in your mindskills or situations in your mind

The athlete imagines themselves The athlete imagines themselves performing and tries to familiarise performing and tries to familiarise themselves with the environment they will themselves with the environment they will compete incompete in

Mental ImageryMental Imagery

This can provide a sense of confidence in This can provide a sense of confidence in the actual physical situation when or if it the actual physical situation when or if it arisesarises

Ideal for closed sports (darts, ten pin Ideal for closed sports (darts, ten pin bowling, archery, etc…)bowling, archery, etc…)

Mental ImageryMental Imagery

Can be used just before a performance as Can be used just before a performance as a method of preparationa method of preparation

Eg: A pole vaulter or high jumper visualising Eg: A pole vaulter or high jumper visualising just before a jumpjust before a jump

Mental ImageryMental Imagery

Good for controlling arousal (psych up or Good for controlling arousal (psych up or calm down)calm down)Need to picture actual and possible Need to picture actual and possible situationssituations

Fact: Visualisation performed in colour is Fact: Visualisation performed in colour is said to be more effective than in black said to be more effective than in black and white! and white!

Common SayingsCommon Sayings

““The vision of a champion is someone The vision of a champion is someone hunched over, drenched in sweat at the hunched over, drenched in sweat at the

point of exhaustion at 6am whilst no- one point of exhaustion at 6am whilst no- one is watching…”is watching…”

““If you do the same as you’ve always done, If you do the same as you’ve always done, you’ll stay the same athlete you always you’ll stay the same athlete you always

were!” were!”

Common SayingsCommon Sayings

““Failing to plan is planning to fail”Failing to plan is planning to fail”

Don’t forget the 6 P’s…Don’t forget the 6 P’s…PPississPPoor oor

PPreparation = reparation = PPiss iss PPoor oor

PPerformanceerformance

How do I set goals?How do I set goals?

1.1. Goal List- Make a list of general goalsGoal List- Make a list of general goals2.2. Goal Selection- What is important to you?Goal Selection- What is important to you?3.3. Goal Priorities- Rank your goalsGoal Priorities- Rank your goals4.4. Plan Of Action- How will I achieve my goals?Plan Of Action- How will I achieve my goals?5.5. Commit YourselfCommit Yourself6.6. Dream your DreamsDream your Dreams7.7. Constantly Review Your Goals Constantly Review Your Goals

Goals Must BeGoals Must Be

Positive (“I will….”)Positive (“I will….”)ChallengingChallengingRealisticRealisticAchievableAchievableBelievable (No doubts)Believable (No doubts)ObservableObservableMeasurableMeasurable

ObstaclesObstacles

Having firm goals will enable you to over Having firm goals will enable you to over come setbacks along the waycome setbacks along the wayYou will be able to turn setbacks (poor You will be able to turn setbacks (poor weather, injury, etc…) to your advantage weather, injury, etc…) to your advantage and learn from themand learn from themA focus on your goals will keep you on A focus on your goals will keep you on track, even though there may be small track, even though there may be small failures along the wayfailures along the way