C H A P T E R

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C H A P T E R
The Psychology of Athletic Preparation and
Performance The Mental Management of Physical
Resources
Bradley Hatfield and Evan B. Brody
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Chapter Outline
?Definition of key concepts in sport psychology
?How the mind affects the athletes physical
performance
?The ideal performance state
?Motivational phenomena
?Influence of arousal on performance
?Mental management of physical resources
controlling psychological processes
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State anxiety is the actual experience of
apprehension and uncontrolled arousal. Trait
anxiety is a personality characteristic, which
represents a latent disposition to perceive
situations as threatening.
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Selective attention is commonly referred to by
athletes as their level of focus and refers to
the suppression of task-irrelevant stimuli and
thoughts.
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Cue Utilization
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Diagram of the Mind-Body Link
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The Ideal Performance State
?Absence of fearno fear of failure
?No thinking about or analysis of performance
?Narrow focus of attention concentrated on the
activity itself
?Sense of effortlessnessan involuntary experience
?Sense of personal control
?Distortion of time and space
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The ideal performance state is characterized by a
quiet mind that results in less cortical
interference with the (subcortical) motor control
centers and by consistent and efficient execution
of motor performance.
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Inverted-U Theory and Its Modifications
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Relationship Between Confidence and Athletic
Performance
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Applied sport psychology involves employing
techniques to gain control over the psychological
factors that influence sport performance. The
validation of such techniques is one mission of
the scientific discipline of sport psychology.
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Why Goal Setting Affects Performance
?Goals direct athletes attention by prioritizing
efforts.
?Goals increase effort because of the contingency
of success on goal attainment.
?Goals increase positive reinforcement through
feedback given to athletes.
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Relaxation techniques are designed to reduce
physiological arousal and increase task-relevant
focus. These techniques are of extreme importance
when executing complex tasks and those not well
learned.
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The Use of Arousal-Control Techniques
?Employ arousal-reduction techniques when
performing a new or complex skill.
?Employ arousal-enhancement techniques when
executing simple or well-learned skills.
?The goal is to allow the athlete to perform with
an unburdened mind.