How to Inspire Players With Sports Psychology

Include mental preparation in every practice.

No matter how much physical talent and skill players possess, they won't have much success if they lack the ability to overcome stressful situations that are present in competition. Enhancing performance and helping players enjoy participating are co-existing goals of the coach. Sports psychology techniques help coaches motivate players to do well and develop more control over their responses in competition, providing the opportunity for more wins and ultimately contributing to more self-confidence in players, both on and off the court or field.

Instructions

Reframing

1. 

   "Ready, aim, fire" could be the mantra for gaining consistency.

   Record an athlete's current thought/performance relationship. Observe an athlete during practice. Following several routine practice drills, interrupt the athlete and ask her what she was thinking about right before that shot, serve or swing. Do this several times during the same practice, following both good and poor results. Make notes for later reference.

2. 

   Focus on controlling the swing mechanics rather than the outcome.

   Praise the athlete for self-disclosure. Then provide a method for reframing any negative thoughts. For example, if a golfer's pre-shot thought is, "I don't want to blow it," positive self-talk focuses on exactly where he wants to place this shot, such as "right down the middle," or on the performance of the swing rather than on the outcome. "Smooth, easy, and firm" is a task-oriented focus.

3. Collect information about how a player feels right before competition. Create situations that help recall. Have her imagine the crowd, the noise, the other team or competitors and the few minutes before game start, and ask for specific physical reactions, such as how fast her heart is beating, how fast she is breathing and whether her palms are sweaty.

4. 

   Establish a routine to calm nerves and make every performance smooth.

   Change a player's perceptions. Help him interpret his physiological responses to performance anxiety in a new way. If his palms get sweaty or his stomach does flip flops, instead of interpreting those as a negative nervous state, rehearse the idea that these signal excitement about the opportunity to perform and tell him that he is at the right level of arousal to do his best.

5. 

   Think, "the tiny little ball is going into the great big hole."

   Raise confidence by decreasing significance of competition. Remind players that they play every day, and this is just another day. This is not a big game; this is one play, one stroke, one step at a time. Practice provides opportunities for mastery of skills; remind players of those successes in practice, and tell them they have done the work and are ready.

Visualization

1. 

   Schedule time for mental skill rehearsal.

   Choose a consistent time to work on visualization skills with your team. Meet before, during or after practice if it suits your schedule. Just as players need repeated physical rehearsal of the proper technique, they need repeated mental preparation for it to be effective. A set time will ensure it gets done.

2. 

   Watch videos or clips of pro athletes for ideal performance goals.

   Create the ideal image. Players who don't yet possess optimal skill or coordination might need external input. Watch videos and clips of Olympic athletes, attend professional competitions or observe skilled athletes firsthand. For young players, this might mean watching experienced upperclassmen.

3. 

   Create perfect mental practice.

   Lead players through a guided imagery experience. Have players get comfortable with eyes open or closed. Describe the competitive environment by using as many senses as possible. Describe the green of the grass, the feel of the breeze, the smell of the nearby ocean, the sound of the club hitting the ball, the easy rhythm of breathing in and out with feet striking the track.

4. Encourage regular mental rehearsal of the perfect performance. Players with increased confidence will be more likely to continue to practice even when skills are difficult for them or they experience defeat. Encourage players to see themselves executing perfect form and experiencing the sensations that are present when that happens. When two teams of similar physical skills come together, mental preparation determines the winner.

Tips & Warnings

• Create strong relationships with individual players, and you'll have a greater influence on them. Provide regular, specific feedback about each player's performance.

References

• "NSCA's Performance Training Journal";The Mental Cheat Sheet; Suzie Tuffey Rieward; April 2005
• "Strength & Conditioning Journal"; Mental Skills Training for Tennis Players: An Added Skill Set for the Strength and Conditioning Coach; Jeff Greenwarld; August 2009
• "Strength and Conditioning Journal"; Choking Under Pressure in Competition and Psychological Intervention Approaches; Jin Wang, Douglas Callahan, Bernie Goldfine; October 2003
• "Strength and Conditioning Journal"; Outcomes of Confidence in Sport Training Settings; Todd A. Gilson; October 2010