The Psychological Performance Inventory
To help you get a clearer idea of your mental strengths and weaknesses, place an X in one
of the five spaces for each of the items in the following list. Place only one check for each
item. Your choices are ALMOST ALWAYS, OFTEN, SOMETIMES, SELDOM, and
ALMOST NEVER. Select whichever one best fits your interpretation of the item as it
relates to you in athletics. Your response is simply an estimate. Be as open and honest as
you can with yourself and respond to each item as it pertains to you in the right-here-andnow context.
Psychological Performance Inventory
1. I see myself as more of a loser than a winner in competition.
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
2. I get angry and frustrated during competition.
1
2
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
4
5
Seldom
Almost Never
3. I become distracted and lose my focus during competition.
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
4. Before competition, I picture myself performing perfectly.
5
4
3
2
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
5. I am highly motivated to play my best.
5
4
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Often
Sometimes
7. I am a positive thinker during competition.
5
4
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
5
Almost Never
1
Seldom
Almost Never
2
1
Seldom
Almost Never
6. I can keep strong positive emotion flowing during competition.
5
4
3
2
Almost Always
5
1
Seldom
Almost Never
2
1
Seldom
Almost Never
8. I believe in myself as a player/performer.
5
4
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
9. I get nervous or afraid in competition.
1
2
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
2
1
Seldom
Almost Never
4
5
Seldom
Almost Never
10. It seems my mind starts racing 100 mph during critical moments of competition.
1
2
3
4
5
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
11. I mentally practice my physical skills.
5
4
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
2
1
Seldom
Almost Never
12. The goals I’ve set for myself as a player/performer keep me working hard.
5
4
3
2
1
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
13. I am able to enjoy competition even when I face lots of difficult problems.
5
4
3
2
1
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
14. My self-talk during competition is negative.
1
2
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
15. I lose my confidence very quickly.
1
2
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
16. Mistakes get me feeling and thinking negatively.
1
2
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
4
5
Seldom
Almost Never
4
5
Seldom
Almost Never
4
5
Seldom
Almost Never
17. I can clear interfering emotion quickly and regain my focus.
5
4
3
2
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
1
Almost Never
18. Thinking in pictures about my sport/competition/performance comes easy for me.
5
4
3
2
1
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
19. I don’t have to be pushed to play or practice hard. I am my own best igniter.
5
4
3
2
1
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
20. I tend to get emotionally flat when things turn against me during play.
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
21. I give 100 percent effort during play, no matter what.
5
4
3
2
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
22. I can perform toward the upper range of my talent and skill.
5
4
3
2
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
23. My muscles become overly tight during competition.
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Often
Often
1
Almost Never
1
Almost Never
5
Almost Never
3
4
5
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
25. I visualize working through tough situations prior to competition.
5
4
3
2
Almost Always
Almost Never
Seldom
24. I get spacey during competition.
1
2
Almost Always
5
Sometimes
Seldom
1
Almost Never
26. I’m willing to give whatever it takes to reach my full potential as a player.
5
4
3
2
1
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
27. I practice with high positive intensity.
5
4
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
2
1
Seldom
Almost Never
28. I can change negative moods into positive ones by controlling my thinking.
5
4
3
2
1
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
3
2
1
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
29. I’m a mentally tough competitor.
5
4
Almost Always
Often
30. Uncontrollable events like the wind, cheating opponents, and bad officials/judges
get me very upset.
1
2
3
4
5
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
31. I find myself thinking of past mistakes or missed opportunities as I play.
1
2
3
4
5
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
32. I use images during play that help me perform better.
5
4
3
2
Almost Always
Often
33. I get bored and burned out.
1
2
Almost Always
Often
Almost Never
1
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
3
4
5
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
34. I get challenged and inspired in tough situations.
5
4
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
35. My coaches would say I have a good attitude.
5
4
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
36. I project the outward image of a confident fighter.
5
4
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
2
1
Seldom
Almost Never
2
1
Seldom
Almost Never
2
1
Seldom
Almost Never
37. I can remain calm during competition when confused by problems.
5
4
3
2
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
38. My concentration is easily broken.
1
2
3
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
4
5
Seldom
Almost Never
39. When I visualize myself playing, I can see and feel things vividly.
5
4
3
2
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
1
Seldom
1
Almost Never
40. I wake up in the morning and am really excited about playing and practicing.
5
4
3
2
1
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
41. Playing this sport gives me a genuine sense of joy and fulfillment.
5
4
3
2
Almost Always
Often
Sometimes
Often
1
Seldom
Almost Never
3
2
1
Sometimes
Seldom
Almost Never
42. I can turn crisis into opportunity.
5
4
Almost Always
Almost Never
How to Score the Results
If you will go back and look, you will see a number beside each X you made for each
item. For example:
Item
X 5
Almost Always
Take that number and place it alongside the item number in the following chart, e.g., 6
__5__. After doing this for all 42 items, add each of the seven columns separately.
Use that total for making your own profile of mental strengths and weaknesses. Any of
your total scores which fall below 20 need your special attention. When that happens,
thoroughly review all training procedures which relate to that area of weakness.
26 – 30
20 – 25
6 - 19
Excellent Skills
Room for Improvement
Needs Your Special Attention
Fill In Your Profile
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Graph Your Profile
30
25
20
15
10
5
A
B
C
D
E
F
G