MOTIVATION AND MENTAL PREPARATION

1
MOTIVATION AND MENTAL PREPARATION
FACTORS AFFECTING PARTICIPATION AND PERFORMANCE
2
MOTIVATION AND MENTAL PREPARATION
3
MENTAL PREPARATION
4
MENTAL REHEARSAL

• Mental imagery is the ability to picture what a
  skill should look like when performed well
• Used in preparation for big competitions where
  performers picture specific skills or key aspects
  of the performance ie a long putt in golf.
• Helps to build up a performer's confidence

5
RELAXATION

• The mind and the body are very closely linked
• Relaxation should involve both physical and
  mental relaxation
• Physical relaxation - utilises massage and
  manipulation techniques to reduce muscular
  tension

6
RELAXATION

• Mental relaxation - is achieved in different
  ways
• Playing calming music
• Meditation
• Quiet talking with a friend/coach
• Going for a walk
• The term 'self-talk' is used to describe the
  performer going through a prepared routine both
  prior and during competition

7
FOCUSING

• Closely related to mental rehearsal
• This involves focusing on the key points of a
  technique and key tactical ideas
• Performer should be free from distractions

8
WHAT IS MOTIVATION?

• Motivation is the desire to perform well.
• Motivation
• Motivation can be different depending on a
  persons goal example Olympic athlete going
  for gold.
• - Someone wanting too keep fit.

9
TYPES OF MOTIVATION

• Two types of motivation-
• EXTRINSIC
• INTRINSIC

10
EXTRINSIC MOTIVATION

• This comes from outside our own personal drives
  and involves
• Winning cups, trophies and medals
• High salaries and prize money
• Personal glory, fame and status
• Also parents, coaches, teachers and the crowd can
  give extrinsic motivation

11
INTRINSIC MOTIVATION

• This is self motivation and involves
• A desire to participate for own personal reasons
• A desire to participate for fun and fitness
• Enjoying playing with friends or part of a team
• Normally associated with people not competing at
  a high level

12
AROUSAL

• This is a state of readiness in a performer
• Motivation is an effective way of stimulating
  arousal
• Coaches/captains 'psyching up' team before match
• Cup finals, prize money, media contracts are
  guaranteed to raise arousal levels

13
OVER-AROUSAL

• Some problems are too easily aroused - this can
  cause problems
• Footballers being over aggressive and being sent
  off
• Cricketers trying to hit ball too hard
• Rugby players make high tackle
• Mistakes, wrong decisions will be made as the
  performer will not be thinking clearly

14
Arousal Levels in Sport

• Arousal levels are important in sport. Too
  little arousal causes the level of involvement to
  be low too much could cause control of behaviour
  to be lost. Research shows that there is an
  optimum level which produces best performance.
  The link between arousal and performance is
  explained using the Inverted U Theory.

15

• In some sports, an optimum arousal level is
  important at the very start, and some sports need
  higher arousal levels than others
• Long jumper raises arousal level before the run
  up eg encouraging crowd to clap
• Golfer putting a ball will benefit from lower
  arousal than a weight lifter

16
Inverted U Theory
As arousal increases , so does performance, but
only up to a certain level. Further increases in
arousal cause a decrease in performance
Performance
Arousal
17
Complex skill
Simple skill
Performance
Arousal
Both curves show that as arousal increases so
does performance. In each case too much arousal
causes a decrease in performance. A complex skill
needs less arousal for optimum performance
18
GOAL SETTING

• Process by which achievable goals are set to
  improve performance
• The acronym SMARTER is useful when setting
  goals

19
SMARTER

• SPECIFIC
• MEASURABLE
• ACCEPTED
• REALISTIC
• TIME RELATED
• EXCITING
• RECORDED

20
SMARTER

• SPECIFIC
• Goals must be clear and precise
• MEASURABLE
• There should be a standard against which progress
  can be measured
• ACCEPTED
• The goal is agreed by performer and coach
• REALISTIC
• Goals or targets must be realistically achievable

21
SMARTER

• TIME-RELATED
• A specific time span gives added focus
• EXCITING
• Motivating and interesting
• RECORDED
• Progress should be measured and recorded
• TASK IN THE BOOKLET CHOOSING YOUR OWN ACTIVITY
  AND USE THE SMARTER SYSTEM TO SET ACHIEVABLE
  GOALS

22
TYPES OF GOAL

• PROCESS GOALS
• Usually relate to an aspect of performance
• Might be a specific technique or skill or
  adjustments to a tactical approach
• A sprinter who is slow out of the blocks might
  set a process goal related to improving
  acceleration

23
TYPES OF GOAL

• TARGET GOALS
• Target goals identify specific targets in overall
  performance
• A runner wanting to improve a PB by a specific
  amount
• (PROCESS AND TARGET GOALS CAN BE RELATED IN
  ORDER TO IMPROVE PB THE PARTICIPANT HAS TO WORK
  ON THEIR TECHNIQUE TO ACHIEVE GOAL)