Sports Psychology Methods

At the top level of modern sports there are fine margins between success and failure. This means that nothing is now left to chance in getting the best out of each individual. As a consequence, sports psychology has become increasingly influential in the way sportsmen and sportswomen prepare for competition.

  1. Confidence

    • Anyone who has ever competed in sports will encounter bad days. This is true of some of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen who have ever lived. Reminders of past good performances will help boost confidence levels. Making athletes believe that they are capable of beating an opponent is an important psychological step in bringing about success. Pointing out any weaknesses of an opponent that happen to be your athlete's strengths is a powerful way to reinforce that confidence.

    Concentration

    • Becoming a good athlete is not purely a question of talent. The ability to maintain concentration is a key element to success. There are several ways in which concentration can be affected. If things are going badly, then it will be difficult for some athletes to keep high concentration levels because they will think that they have no chance of winning. If things are too easy, then some athletes will "switch off," and then find themselves up against it when their opponents regain confidence and improve. Tiredness is another factor which can affect concentration. Setting achievable goals will help an individual maintain focus, even when he or she is struggling. An environment also needs to be created that will make a sportsman or sportswoman comfortable and free to concentrate on their performance.

    Motivation

    • Keeping an athlete motivated will require thorough knowledge of the individual concerned. An athlete may be nervous about coming back from injury, may have lost confidence after a number of poor performances, or just become disinterested in the sport. If an athlete seems unhappy, he or she should be encouraged to speak in specifics about what is going on. Remind such athletes of what they are capable of, why they love their sport, and how things will become enjoyable once again.

    Discipline

    • Successful sportsmen and sportswomen are naturally competitive. This can often lead to disciplinary problems, given that the will to win can lead to overly aggressive behavior, or even cheating. Too much anger will not help performance, and an understanding of why an athlete is angry will help to bring about greater self-control. Discipline will also break down if an athlete is too nervous. This will result in losing a competitive edge, which will often result in an inward anger. For these athletes, relaxation techniques would be helpful.