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More handpicked essays just for you.
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Recognizing Sports Anxiety and Arousal
In sports, there are high levels of anxiety and arousal that may result in decreased performance and possible injury or fatigue. Sport programs are not always able to recognize and identify the signs of increased anxiety and arousal in players. This increase in anxiety and arousal may affect their performance. Symptoms of this increase may include: cold clammy hands, frequent urination, profuse sweating, negative self-talk, dazed eyes, ill feelings, headache, and dry mouth, sleep difficulties, increased muscle tension, butterflies in stomach and inability to concentrate (PsychologyCampus.com, 2016). Unfortunately, these signs are often unnoticed and undetected because they may happen in situations when players are not being tested or evaluated properly. Sports programs should focus on testing during normal workout sessions, in an effort to improve anxiety and arousal
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Existing psychological literature on the aspects of resistance training provides some insight into areas of mental health and sport psychology (Stone, 2009). This includes psychological well-being, self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-worth. Additionally, the well-being of the players includes the mental and physical preparation for a season. Psychological skills that may serve athletes and others participating in resistance training includes: goal setting, relaxation, concentration, imagery, and ritualization (Ogilvie, 1995). The research in the areas of sports science has evolved over the past few years with the emergence of new techniques that help players train to improve performance. Upcoming studies in this area of sports science advocate the necessity of implementation of a sports program that focus on resistance training based on the sports program three metabolic pathways to improve anxiety and
Smith, R. E. (1986). Toward a cognitive affective model of athletic burnout. Journal of Sport Psychology, 8, 36-50.
However, what this argument does not take into account is that athletes have an abundance of pressure put on them that most non-athletes don’t ever experience. Hence, the saying, “go hard or go home”. A recent study emphasizes this fact as McClatchy notes, ”The researchers monitored mood levels of 465 collegiate athletes over three years and found 6.3 percent of the athletes met the criteria for clinically significant depression and 24 percent were considered ‘clinically relevant’ “ (2016). Studies like these prove that athletes are not blind to the idea of depression, but rather experience this disorder themselves. Anxiety has a huge role in depression. As sportsperson, there is constant effort to become an awe-inspiring player. As the stakes of the game raise, so does the anxiety. Some want a scholarship, some want to show off what they offer to a team that got a scholarship, and some are professionals. Regardless of whether it's grade school sport or a professional sport, failing at personal goals one set is down right depressing. Kearns and Hwang state that, ”While it’s not clear whether the source of challenges to a student-athlete's mental well-being is the same as those non-athletes, collegiate athletes are known to encounter unique stressor that the general population doesn’t have to deal with, such as the demands, relationships with coaches and missed scheduled classes” (2014). Pressure is something everyone experiences. However, athletes experience some of the same pressure that of non-athletes and then some. Being on a sports team is demanding to time and the idea of being “superior”. In athletics, coaches are everything. For example, If a coach likes how a person attributes as a team player, then that person will get a chance to shine. However, if the coach is not very fond of one, then the chances of opportunities are not very
The goal of every coach is to create an environment in which his athletes can flourish. Performance anxiety is a coach’s worst enemy simply because it can have a negative impact both mentally and physically on athletes. The mastery approach to coaching is a cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to promote a mastery-involving motivational climate (Smith, Smoll, Cumming, 2007). How a coach handles his athletes is essential for their confidence and ability to overcome any level of performance anxiety. Critical or punitive feedback from coaches can evoke high levels of negative affect in children who fear failure and disapproval, thereby contributing to a threatening athletic environment (Smith, Smoll, Cumming, 2007).
I am a young ambitious student who strives to excel in everything I do. I want to study Sport Psychology as I know I possess the right skills to further and develop myself in the career of sports. I have the ability to understand others in sports as I also play sports myself. I have been in high pressured sporting situations which I have used my psychological skills to help increase my performance. What interests me in Sport Psychology is that I can make a big difference to not just my life but the lives of people in sport such as rehabilitating athletes or boosting athlete performance. I am fascinated by how different athletes perform in the same environment and getting practical with the mind, body and brain. Improving performance, consistency and stability in an athlete’s
Wiese-Bjornstal, D. M., Smith, A. M., & LaMott, E. E. (1995). A model of psychological response to athletic injury and rehabilitation. Athletic training: Sport health care perspectives, 17-30.
Sports Psychology Today. Mental Edge Athletics, 4 Sept. 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. Forde, Pat.
Creative new training methods, developed by coaches, athletes and sport scientists, are aimed to help improve the quality and quantity of athletic training ( Kellmann, 2010, p.1). However, these methods have encountered a consistent set of barriers including overtraining ( Kellmann, 2010, p.1). Due to these barriers, the need for physical and mental recovery in athletics brought an increasing attention in practice and in research ( Kellmann, 2010, p.1).
Athletic staleness and burnout is a big problem for many of today’s athletes whether they are at the amateur or professional level. The good thing about this problem that ends up in total and complete physical and emotional exhaustion is that it can be recognized when it is taking place. It can also be treated if the recognition comes at too late of a stage of the onset of staleness and burnout. But the best remedy for athletic staleness and burnout is prevention of it in the first place. There are three different models that have been used to explain the causes of athlete burnout.
Playing a sport whether its basketball, soccer, football or any other of your interest can be thrilling, and accelerating. Not only can it be fun yet physical exercise is good for the mind, body, and spirit. Therefore, as an athlete one must keep in mind that playing any sport, injury is part of life and inevitable. Research has proven from time to time that severe injuries in sports can trigger psychological mental health issues, affecting them in their athletic performance.
Sports psychology draws on knowledge from the fields of Kinesiology and Psychology. It involves the study of how psychological factors affect performance and how participation in sport and exercise affect psychological and physical factors. In addition to instruction and training of psychological skills for performance improvement, sport psychology may include work with athletes and coaches regarding injury, rehabilitation, communication, and team building (Weinberg, R.S. & Gould, D.,2010)....
“Arousal is a state of physiological and psychological alertness and anticipation that prepares an athlete for action.” (Barker, 2007, p. 311). Arousal can be interpreted as activation of the human body, and can further contribute to enhancing an athlete’s performance. However, when activations exceed maximum levels, it can further lead to anxiety (Hannibal, 127, p. ).
In the article, “Athletes and Coaches Report Mental Health is Slightly More Important Than Physical Health in Overall Performance; Both Agree That More Communication is Needed to Address Mental Health Concerns.”, the Minds in Motion Depression Awarenes Campaign conducted a survey and found that the athletes and coaches believed that “mental health shares an equal, and/or slightly greater role than physical health, in defining peak athletic
Sports psychologists study the motivation, violence, leadership, group dynamics and exercise and well being of people and thoughts and feelings of athletes while they participate in there sports. Sports psychologists are concerned with the psychological aspect that influences participation and performances in sports and exercise the psychological effects derived from participation theories and inervations that can be used to enhance performance partipation and personal growth. Coaches are looking to this field of study to gain a competive edge by creating a ideal mental climate for their players to perform at peak levels and also manage competive, stress control concentration, improve confidence and communication skills and team harmony.
Overexerting the body too much can lead to problems such as heart failure, unnatural weight loss and increases dehydration. “Your levels of cortisol, or stress hormones, tend to increase. It is possible to experience a decrease in testosterone levels, which can have negative consequences for men and women alike. You may also find yourself suffering from a weakened immune system, which can lead to frequent illness.” (The Side Effects of Excessive Exercise Erica Perna 2012) A weakened immune system could lead to catching very dangerous illnesses that could lead to death. She also explains a symptom called Overtraining syndrome which is resulted from extreme exercising and how it mentally affects the body. “If you are not feeling your usual excitement for your fitness regimen or sport, or if you do not feel mentally prepared for exercise or competition, you could be experiencing the psychological effects of overtraining syndrome. You might also experience sleep disturbances, or feel drowsy during the day and unable to rest at night. Similarly, you might feel excessive fatigue, apathy, irritability or hostility.” (The Side Effects of Excessive Exercise Erica Perna 2012) The body cannot handle too much stress or it could lead to a complete shutdown and in worse cases death. We must understand the limitations and make sure to not overdue and form of