BlazeSports Institute for Applied Science CDSS Level II Curriculum

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Today’s Speaker

Dan Humphreys, M.S., CDSS Director of BlazeTEC

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Objectives

• Review the origins and development of sport psychology and mental skills training from inception to present.

• Dispel myths associated with sport psychology and mental skills training.

• Define sport psychology, mental skills training and clinical versus educational sport psychologist.

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Objectives

• Understand the objectives of sport psychology and mental skills training.

• Define various methods and skill within sport psychology and mental skills training.

• Understand the role of sport psychology and mental skills training within a holistic training program.

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

History

• Periods of Development • Period 1 – The Early Years

• 1895 – 1920 • Norman Triplett

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

History

• Periods of Development • Period 2 – The Griffith Era

• 1921 – 1938 • First Academic Sports Psychology

Laboratory at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

• Psychology of Coaching

• Psychology of Athletics

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

History

• Periods of Development • Period 3 – Preparation for the Future

• 1939 – 1969 • Franklin Henry

• 1938: Establishes graduate program in Psychology of Physical Activity

• 1965: First World Congress of Sport Psychology

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

History

• Periods of Development • Period 4 – Establishment of Academic

Sport Psychology

• 1966 – 1977 • Bruce Ogilvie

• Applied Sport Psychology Consultants

• First Annual NASPSPA Conference

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

History

• Periods of Development • Period 5 – Multidisciplinary Science and

Practice in Sport and Exercise Psychology

• 1978 – 2000 • Global Growth

• Applied Issues

• Qualitative Studies

• Exercise Psychology

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

History

• Periods of Development • Period 5 – Multidisciplinary Science and

Practice in Sport and Exercise Psychology

• 1978 – 2000 • 1979: Journal of Sport Psychology

Established

• 1985: USOC hires first full-time sports psychologist

• 1986: American Association of Applied Sport Psychologists (AAASP)

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

History

• Periods of Development • Period 5 – Multidisciplinary Science and

Practice in Sport and Exercise Psychology

• 1978 – 2000 • 1987: APA Division 47 Developed

• 1989: Journal of Applied Sport Psychology

• 1991: AAASP establishes “certified consultant” designation

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

History

• Periods of Development • Period 6 – Contemporary Sport and

Exercise Psychology

• 2001 – Present • Training and Educating Students

• Exercise Psychology Flourishes

• APA Div. 47 – Sport Psychology as a Specialized Competency Area

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Myths

• Psychological (PST) Vs. Mental

Skills Training (MST) • Used interchangeably

• Possible negative connotation

• Use of term Mental Skills Training can eliminate negative perceptions

• Opens door to larger client pool

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Myths

• Psychological Skills Training (PST)

is for “problem” athletes only. • PST is for elite training only. • PST provides “quick fix” solutions. • PST is not useful.

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

What is Sport Psychology?

• The scientific study of people and

their behaviors in sport and the practical application of that knowledge.

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

What is the objective of Sport Psychologists?

• Two Objectives • Understand the effects of psychological

factors on physical or motor performance. • How does anxiety affect free throw shooting?

• Understand the effects of physical activity participation on psychological development, health and well being. • Does running reduce anxiety and depression?

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

What is the objective of Sport Psychologists?

• Why? • To understand and help

• Who? • Elite athletes, children, persons who are

physically or mentally disabled, seniors and average participants

• What? • Achieve maximum participation, peak

performance, personal satisfaction, and development through participation.

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

What is the objective of Sport Psychologists?

• How? • Three Roles

• Teaching • Consulting • Research

• Two Specialties • Clinical Sport Psychologist

• Treat clients with emotional disorders • Educational Sport Psychologist

• Mental Coaches

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

What is Mental Skills Training?

• Systematic and consistent practice of mental skills for the purpose of enhancing performance, increasing enjoyment, or achieving greater sport and physical activity self-satisfaction.

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

What is the Objective of Mental Skills Training?

• To assist sport participants in the

development of mental skills to achieve performance success and personal well-being.

• To have athletes effectively function on their own without needing constant direction from a coach or sport psychologist.

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Why is MST Important?

“Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.”

-Yogi Berra, Hall of Fame Catcher

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Why is MST Important?

• Mental Toughness • Focus • Rebound from failure • Cope with pressure • Persist • Realize internal locus of control

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Why is MST Neglected?

• Three Basic Reasons

• Lack of Knowledge

• Misunderstanding About Mental Skills

• Lack of Time

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Skills Vs. Methods

• Skills • Qualities to be obtained

• Methods • Procedures or techniques used to

develop skills

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

MST Methods

• Arousal Regulation

• Imagery

• Goal Setting

• Attention/Concentration

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Skills & Categories

• Foundation • Achievement Drive • Self-Awareness • Productive Thinking • Self-Confidence

• Performance

• Perceptual-Cognitive Skill • Attentional Focus • Energy Management

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Skill Categories

• Personal Development • Identity Achievement • Interpersonal Competence

• Team

• Leadership • Communication • Cohesion • Team Confidence

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Summary

• Sport Psychology since 1995

• Myths

• Clinical Vs. Educational Sport Psychologist

• Definitions & Objectives

• Methods and Skills

• Holistic Training Program

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Resources

Weinberg, R. S., & Gould, D. (2007). Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Williams, J. M. (Ed.). (2006). Applied Sport Psychology: Personal Growth to Peak Performance (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

Questions??

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

11th Annual BlazeSports International Conference on

Paralympic Sport and Physical Activity

September 15-18, 2011 Decatur, GA

Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training

535 N. McDonough St. Decatur, GA 30030

404-270-2000

www.blazesports.org