introduction to sports psychology

1. Dr. Deepak Mishra
Dept. of Sports Psychology
SAI NSNIS, Patiala.
INTRODUCTION TO SPORTS
PSYCHOLOGY

2. Sports Psychology
 Sports + Psychology
 Sports is “any physical activity for the purposes of
competition, recreation, education or health”
(European Federation of Sport Psychology,
FEPSAC, 1996).
 Psychology is “ Scientific study of human mind and
behavior”(Gross, 2005).

3. Sports Psychology
 Thus, Sports Psychology can be defined as ‘Sport
Psychology is the study of the psychological basis,
processes and effects of sport.’
 Sports psychology is a broad church.
 Sports psychologist often distinguished between two
sub divisions of Sports Psychology.
1. Academic Sports Psychology
2. Applied Sports Psychology

4. Sports Psychology
 Academic Sports Psychology: Focuses on all the
factors affecting participation and performance in
sport.
 Applied Sport Psychology: Focuses purely on
applying psychology to enhance athletic performance.

5. Objectives of Sport Psychology
 It aims to improve both the sports performance and general well-
being of the athlete, through the application of psychological
principles and techniques.
 It involves the study of how psychological factors affect
performance and how participation in sport and exercise affect
psychological and physical factors.
 The goal of applied practice is to optimize performance and
enjoyment through the use of psychological skills and the use of
psychometrics and psychological assessment.
 It aims to help the sportspersons deal with precompetitive Stress and
Anxiety which is debilitative to their sports performance.

6. Three roles
What Sport and Exercise Psychology
Specialists do

7. Early Years (1895-1924)
Research
• Triplett (1899): 1st Sports Psychology
Experiment
• Lab based procedures
• Topics focused on Personality and Motor
Learning
Teaching – None
Consultation - None

8. Griffith Era (1925-1938)
Research
• Conducted a systematic program of theoretical and
applied research
• Lab-based
• Topics focused on Motor Learning and Sport
Performance (e.g., football stance)
§Teaching
• Developed Sport Psychology class and taught principles
in several classes

9. Griffith Era (1925-1938)
 Consulting
• Wrote books
ØPsychology of Coaching
ØPsychology and Athletics
• Outlined functions of Sport Psychologists
• Consulted with a wide variety of Illinois Athletic
teams.

10. Dark Ages (1939-1964)
 Research
• Little systematic lab-based research
• Alan Slater-Hammel -- Motor Learning
• Emma McCloy -- Motor Abilities
 Teaching
• John Lawther (1951) Psychology and Coaching
§Consultation
• Minimal consultation being conducted

11. Contemporary Era (1965-Present)
Research
• In 1981, Martens’ Smocks to Jocks articles
promoted field research.
• In 1986, Association for the Advancement of
Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) founded.
• In 1987, APA Division 47 – Sport & Exercise
Psychology founded.
• In 1987, The Sport Psychologist started.

12. Sport Psychology Organizations
§Association of Applied Sport Psychology
(AASP)
§APA Division 47 – Sport & Exercise
Psychology (DIV-47)
§North American Society for the
Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity
(NASPSPA)

13. Sport Psychology Journals
§Journal of Applied Sport Psychology (JASP)
§Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
(JSEP)
§The Sport Psychologist (TSP)

14. History of Sports Psychology in India
 Can’t be understood without reference to the context of
development of Physical Education in relation to sport-coaching
system.
 Started with establishment of YMCA college of physical
education in Madras (1920), curricula of principles of Education
Psychology.
 Largely on “academic lines”.
 Introduction of Masters course at LNCPE, PGCPE (Patiala),
Educational Psychology become more Sports oriented.

15.  Sport Psychology in India emerged in the 1980’s.
 Early 1980’s book published by Dr. M.L. Kamlesh “ Psychology of
Physical Education and Sports”.
 1984 – The Indian Association of Sports Scientists and Physical
Educationists was founded.
 In 1985 – The Sport Psychology Association of India was formed.
 1992 – Association of Physical Education and Sciences.
 1993 – Sports Sciences Research Foundation.

16. 1. Psycho-Physiological
Orientation
2. Social–Psychological
Orientation
3. Cognitive–Behavioral
Orientation
Three Approaches To Sport
And Exercise Psychology

17. Psycho-Physiological
Orientation
Examines underlying Psycho-
Physiological processes of the
brain in terms of primary causes
of behavior.
Example:
Biofeedback training

18. Social–Psychological
Orientation
Behavior is determined by a
complex interaction of the social
environment and the personal
make-up of the athlete or
exerciser.
Example:
How a leader’s style and strategies
foster group cohesion

19. Cognitive–Behavioral
Orientation
Behavior is determined by both
the environment and thoughts
(cognitions).
Example:
Studying differences on confidence,
anxiety, concentration, goal setting
skills etc. among players

20.  Emotional reconditioning
 Motivational technique for learning new skills
 Psychological preparation for a contest and the hazards
involved in it
 Motivation for peak performance
 Teaching and coaching methods
 Perceptual development and the learning of movement
patterns
 Relationship of personality traits to athletic prowess etc.
Sports problems of psychological
nature faced by athletes

21. v How can highly skilled performance be
developed?
v What factors should be emphasized to enhance
the learning situation?
v What factors of growth and development need to
be considered?
v What is the role of personality profiles or specific
traits in contributing to the outstanding
Sports problems of psychological
nature faced by Coaches

22.  What are the main areas where
experimentation in sports is needed?
 How the interpersonal and social
relationships between the individual players
in the same group affect the performance of
the team?
 What types of psychic problems occur in the
field of sports?

23. CHIEF COMPLAINTS & SHORT TERM
INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES
Chief Complaints Suggested Techniques
Warm- up dependency • Psycho- education regarding physical and
mental training
• Thought Changing technique
Lack of Confidence • Positive self talk strategy
• Set realistic performance goals
• Pep-up talk
• Imagery
Negative thought • Positive attitude building
• Thought Changing technique
• JPMR
• Autogenic relaxation technique

24. CHIEF COMPLAINTS & SHORT TERM
INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES
Chief Complaints Suggested Techniques
Aggressiveness/ Frustration
during bout
• Relaxation techniques with imagery
• Decision making and planning session
• Hassel log Technique
• Arousal monitoring
Poor Concentration • Attention Control Training (like focusing
on most relevant cues)
• Cue-words
• Attention Control Training (like focusing
on most relevant cues)
• Cue-words
• Here and now technique
• Mixed reaction timer technique,
• digit span
Psycho- social stress • Counseling
• Support from team n family members

25. LONG TERM INTERVENTION PLAN &
TECHNIQUES
Chief Complaints Suggested Techniques
Mental toughness • Assertiveness training,
• Mental toughness procedures,
• Proactivity
• Hardiness
Communication skills • Assertiveness training,
• Transactional analysis,
• Free association,
• Social skill training,
• Ice breaking technique
Motivation • Motivation enhancement therapy
• Psyche-up Technique

26. LONG TERM INTERVENTION PLAN &
TECHNIQUES
Chief Complaints Suggested Techniques
Burnout • Intervention on training schedule
• Rescheduling reinforcement
• Promoting self-actualization
Psycho- social Stress • Cognitive behavioral intervention
• Cognitive restructuring
Fatigue • Mental fatigue management
• Training on Flicker- eye movement test
• Eye movement desensitization and
Reprocessing Therapy (EMDRT)

27. Aspects Of Sport Psychology
 Cognitive Aspects
 Affective Aspects
 Conative Aspects
 Motivation
 Goal setting
 Personality Traits
 Aggression
 Leadership
 Self Confidence and Self Efficacy

28. Cognitive Aspects
 Sensation
 Perception
 Attention
 Concentration
 Thinking
 Memory
 Imagery
 Decision making
 Problem Solving
 Intelligence

29. Affective Aspects
Emotions and Feelings
Anger Management
Arousal
Anxiety

30. Conative Aspects
 Motor Learning
 Aggression
 Skill Demonstration
 Laws of Learning
 Transfer of Training
 Plateau

31. Thank You