3.2.1 - Sport Psychology Flashcards

1
Q

What is a ‘skill’?

A

A learned action or behaviour

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2
Q

What is ‘ability’?

A

Ability is something that is inherited from your parents, that are stable traits that determine an individual’s potential to learn or acquire skills.

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3
Q

What is the basic-to-complex continuum?

A
  • Few decisions are made for basic skills, whilst for complex more decisions have to be made.
  • Basic skills are normally taught to beginners, whereas complex get taught to those who have mastered the basic skills. These take a considerable time to master.
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4
Q

What is the open-to-closed continuum?

A
  • An open skill is an environment which can change due to the environment or other players (opposition/team players) and the way you do a skill is affected by them.
  • A closed skill is conducted within a stable environment where you are not affected by people around you. You will not change what you do, and therefore keep the skill the same. E.g. A basketball free throw, the player goes through the same routine and skill every time.
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5
Q

What is the self-paced to externally-paced continuum?

A

Self-paced skills are when you have control of when to start the movement/skill. E.g. Long jumper deciding when to start his/her run up, or a marathon runner setting their pace to run.

Externally-paced is when the performer is controlled by external factors. These can be such as: receiving a badminton serve, or by the starter in sprinting events.

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6
Q

What is the gross-to-fine continuum?

A

Gross skills involve big movements of the body. This involves the use of large muscles to working together. Examples: kicking a ball, running, and throwing a javelin.

Fine skills involves small, precise movements, that involve small muscle groups. These focus on precision and accuracy, for example dart throw, archery, snooker, and a table tennis push (block) shot.

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7
Q

What is a performance goal?

A

Performance goals does not involves the performer comparing to others. Performers compare themselves against what they have already done or suggest what they are going to do.

E.g. 100m sprinter

  • may hope for a better start than the last race.
  • may aim to time their ‘dip’ well when crossing the line (better than last time).
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8
Q

What are outcome goal?

A

Outcome goals focus on the end result. They usually invoke comparison with other competitors. The performance standards may not be that important, but the outcome does.

E.g. A football player

  • may wish to win a match.
  • may wish to score two goals to increase their team’s goal difference.
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9
Q

Why should performers set ‘short-term’ goals?

A

Performers would be set short-term goals to ensure there are small increments to achieve their long-term goal.

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10
Q

Why do performers set ‘long-term’ goals?

A

Performers set long-term goals to ensure they have a clear target to aim towards over a long time period (I.e. a year)

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11
Q

What type of goal would a beginner use?

A

Beginners usually prefer to avoid outcome goals as failure could demotivate them. This might be that winning is unrealistic for some performers.

Beginners may be better at concentrating on performance goals and trying to better themselves without worrying about the result compared to others.

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12
Q

What type of goal might an advanced/elite performer use?

A

Elite athletes are often driven by one thing and thing only - winning!

The use of performance goals can help motivate them to work on individual aspects of performance, but the outcome goal of winning, or gaining a medal, may increase their desire to succeed even more.

The best performers can persist, even when they fail, and become even more determined to succeed next time.

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13
Q

What does the acronym SMART stand for?

A
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Accepted
R - Realistic
T - Time Bound
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14
Q

What does Specific mean, when following the SMART principles?

A

The goal must be specific to the demands of the sport / muscles being used / movements involved.

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15
Q

What does Measurable mean, when using the SMART principle?

A

It must be possible to measure whether it has been achieved.

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16
Q

What does Accepted mean, when following the SMART principle?

A

It must be accepted / agreed by the performers and performer’s coach, if they have one.

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17
Q

What does Realistic mean, when following the SMART principle

A

It must actually be possible to complete the goal, that the person is physically capable.

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18
Q

What does Time-Bound mean, when following the SMART principle?

A

It must be set over a fixed period of time.

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19
Q

What is information processing?

A

Information processing is the process in which decisions are made. It involves gathering data from the display (senses) and prioritising the most important stimuli to make a suitable decision.

For example, choosing a suitable skill

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20
Q

What are the four elements of the basic information processing model?

A

1: Input
2: Decision Making
3: Output
4: Feedback

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21
Q

What happens within the ‘input’ stage of basic information processing?

A

The performer takes in information from the environment (for example what they see, what they hear, and what they feel).

They choose what is the most relevant signal/cue/stimulus/ piece of information to them at that time.

For example, a cricketer watching the cricket ball flying in the air.

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22
Q

What is ‘selective attention’?

A

Selective attention is a filtering process whereby the performer picks out the most important parts of the environment that are relevant and discard those that are not

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23
Q

What happens within the ‘decision making’ stage of basic information processing?

A

This is where the performer selects an appropriate response (movement/skill) from memory; perhaps a situation they have previously experienced.

The short-term memory (STM) is the working memory, and any skill is displayed here, and lasts for 30 seconds. If attention is drawn away, the information gathered is then lost.

You use your long-term memory to hold information that has been rehearsed and stored. This is what is called upon to recall a skill, to apply to your short-term memory of present so a suitable decision can be made.

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24
Q

What happens within the ‘output’ stage of basic information processing

A

The decision chosen is sent to the appropriate muscles to carry out the response.

For example, impulse sent to arms and hands to start the appropriate muscular movement for the catch to take place.

25
Q

What happens within the ‘feedback’ stage of basic information processing?

A

Information is received via themselves (intrinsic) and/or from others (extrinsic) regarding the success (or not) of the action.

Feedback received may affect how you complete this skill in the future.

For example, you can feel the balk in the hands (intrinsic) and your team mates cheer when you catch it (extrinsic).

26
Q

Name the four types of guidance.

A
  1. Visual
  2. Verbal
  3. Manual
  4. Mechanical
27
Q

What is visual guidance?

A

Visual guidance is simply when the performer can see something.

28
Q

Give an example of visual guidance.

A

An example would be when a performer watches a demonstration of a technique or skill. Another example is watching footage from a DVD, analysis software, or photographs.

29
Q

What is verbal guidance?

A

Verbal guidance involves another person (coach or teacher) telling the learner what they are doing right or wrong. It is often used with visual guidance.

30
Q

Give an example of verbal guidance.

A

An example of verbal guidance is when a teacher/coach explains what the performer needs to improve or do.

31
Q

What is manual guidance?

A

Manual guidance involves physically moving the performer to complete the movement.

32
Q

Give an example of manual guidance.

A

The coach supports the performer move through physical touch, or using mechanical aids.

33
Q

What is mechanical guidance?

A

Mechanical guidance is when the performer uses mechanical aids to assist performance.

34
Q

Give an example of mechanical guidance.

A

Examples of a mechanical aids are:

  • Scrum machine (Rugby)
  • Arm bands (Swimming)
  • Stabilisers (Cycling)
35
Q

What type of guidance would a beginner use most?

A

A beginner would use visual guidance to understand what a skill looks like. They would also need some verbal guidance, but this should not be too long or complex. They are also likely to need manual and mechanical guidance to support or guide them through the correct technique.

36
Q

What type of guidance would an elite performer use most?

A

An elite performer is most likely to use verbal guidance. It is likely to be more complex and longer than that given to a beginner. It allows for ‘fine-tuning’ of technique.

It is unlikely that they would need visual, manual or mechanical guidance. Unless there is an unexpected flaw in their technique.

37
Q

State the six types of feedback.

A
  1. Positive
  2. Negative
  3. Knowledge of results
  4. Knowledge of performance
  5. Intrinsic Feedback
  6. Extrinsic Feedback
38
Q

What is positive feedback?

A

Positive feedback is used to inform the athlete what was correct about the movement. Performers need to know if a movement is correct as this provides the reference point for future attempts.

Positive feedback is essential in motivating athletes.

39
Q

What is negative feedback?

A

Negative feedback is used to inform the athlete what was incorrect about the movement. Negative feedback must include information on the action(s) required by the performer to achieve the correct movement.

40
Q

What is ‘knowledge of results’?

A

Knowledge of results focuses on how successful you have been in achieving what you set out to do (the outcome).

This can either be seen by the performer (distance jumped) or given to you by a coach/teacher.

Examples are: whether you scored or not with a free throw in basketball; what score you recorded in golf; whether your shot in football went in the goal or not; how quickly you ran the 100 metres.

41
Q

What is ‘knowledge of performance’?

A

Knowledge of performance provides more detail about how well you did irrespective of the result. It may relate to technique used, or specific aspects of the movement you produced. It deals with the quality of the performance, not the result.

Examples include: excellent elbow extension - basketball free-throw; ‘your swing was excellent in that golf shot’ - ‘great balance’.

42
Q

What is extrinsic feedback?

A

Extrinsic feedback is information received about performance which comes from outside of the performer.

43
Q

Give an example of extrinsic feedback.

A

A coach, spectators or other performers. It is often given verbally and however can be given in writing through a score i.e. ice skating 8 out of 10.

44
Q

What is intrinsic feedback?

A

Intrinsic feedback is information which is received from within the performer, for example how something feels, information from the senses or muscles.

45
Q

Give an example of intrinsic feedback.

A

Examples of intrinsic feedback are: how something feels, information from the senses or muscles.

46
Q

What does the acronym ‘REPPIN’ stand for?

A
R - Results (Knowledge of)
E - Extrinsic
P - Positive
P - Performance (Knowledge of)
I - Intrinsic
N - Negative
47
Q

What type of feedback is most important for beginners?

A

Beginners are more suited to - REP
R - Results (Knowledge of)
E - Extrinsic
P - Positive

48
Q

What type of feedback is most important for elite athletes?

A

Elite performers are more suited to - PIN
P - Performance (Knowledge of)
I - Intrinsic
N - Negative

49
Q

Why should negative feedback not be used excessively with beginners?

A

It can demotivate them/cause them to stop playing / not persevere.

50
Q

What do you understand by the term ‘arousal’?

A

Arousal is a physical and mental (physiological and psychological) state of alertness/excitement varying from deep sleep to intense excitement.

51
Q

Describe the inverted u theory of arousal.

A

As arousal increases so does performance, up to the optimal / perfect level. If arousal levels increases further then performance level decreases.

52
Q

How does the optimal level of arousal vary pending the different sporting skills?

A

Fine/precise movements involving accuracy require a low optimal level of arousal.

Gross/skills requiring power, strength and/or large muscle movements require a high level of arousal.

53
Q

Give examples of sports with a low optimal arousal level, which involve fine / precise movements.

A

Snooker, archery and darts.

54
Q

Give examples of sports with a high optimal arousal level, which involve gross / large movements.

A

Rugby tackle, sprinting and weightlifting.

55
Q

State three ways to control arousal level

A
  1. Deep breathing (physical / somatic)
  2. Mental rehearsal/ visualisation/ imagery (mental / cognitive)
  3. Positive self-talk (mental / cognitive)
56
Q

Describe what the technique ‘deep breathing’ involves.

A

Deep breathing involves the performer exaggerating their breaths in and out. The top half of the body should be relaxed and slow, deep breaths should be used to allow the performer to control arousal and focus their thoughts on the task in hand.

This can be used before a performance to calm nerves and control arousal. It can be used during to focus the mind on the task in hand.

57
Q

Describe what the technique ‘mental rehearsal/visualisation/imagery’ involves.

A

Mental rehearsal, visualisation and imagery involves the performer picturing themselves performing the skill perfectly before attempting it.

An example of this would be Jonny Wilkinson controlling his arousal level prior to kicking a rugby conversion.

58
Q

Describe what the technique ‘positive self-talk’ involves.

A

Positive self-talk is where the performer talks to them-self in their head. This technique is usually positive and can reassure performers that they are doing well or are well prepared and can relax their body and mind.