Module 5: Effects of Psychological Factors

Fitness testing and training

1. Psychological Factors
2. Motivation
   1. Types of motivation
3. Motivation Activity
4. Arousal and Anxiety
   1. Effects on sports performance
5. Personality
   1. Type A and Type B personality types
6. Concentration
7. Summary of Psychological Factors Effects on Exercise
   1. Short-term effects
   2. Long-term effects

Concentration

Concentration is the ability of a sports performer to process information and maintain focus.

To process information, a sports performer has to make sense of the information they are presented with and decide on the course of action to take, for example responding to their opponent or adapting to their environment.. If a performer becomes overloaded with information it can negatively affect their performance.

If the athlete lacks concentration then their athletic abilities will not be effectively or efficiently applied to the task. Research has identified the following types of attention focus:

• Broad Narrow continuum - the athlete focuses on a large or small number of stimuli
• Internal External continuum - the athlete focuses on internal stimuli (feelings) or external stimuli (ball)

The demand for concentration varies with the sport:

• Sustained concentration - distance running, cycling, tennis, squash
• Short bursts of concentration - cricket, golf, shooting, athletic field events
• Intense concentration - sprinting events, bobsleigh, skiing

Common distractions are: anxiety, mistakes, fatigue, weather, public announcements, coach, manager, opponent, negative thoughts etc.

Strategies to improve concentration are very personal. One way to maintain focus is to set process goals for each session or competition. The athlete will have an overall goal for which the athlete will identify a number of process goals that help focus on specific aspects of the task.

For each of these goals the athlete can use a trigger word (a word which instantly refocuses the athlete's concentration to the goal) e.g. sprinting technique requires the athlete to focus on being tall, relaxed, smooth and to drive with the elbows - trigger word could be "technique".

Athletes will develop a routine for competition that may include the night before, the morning, pre competition, competition and post competition routines. If these routines are appropriately structured then they can prove a useful aid to concentration.