BlazeSports Institute for Applied Science
CDSS Level II Curriculum
Headstrong: Sport Psychology
and Mental Skills Training
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Today’s Speaker
Dan Humphreys, M.S., CDSS
Director of BlazeTEC
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Objectives
• Review the origins and development of sport
psychology and mental skills training from
inception to present.
• Dispel myths associated with sport
psychology and mental skills training.
• Define sport psychology, mental skills training
and clinical versus educational sport
psychologist.
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Objectives
• Understand the objectives of sport psychology
and mental skills training.
• Define various methods and skill within sport
psychology and mental skills training.
• Understand the role of sport psychology and
mental skills training within a holistic training
program.
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
History
• Periods of Development
• Period 1 – The Early Years
• 1895 – 1920
•
Norman Triplett
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
History
• Periods of Development
• Period 2 – The Griffith Era
• 1921 – 1938
•
First Academic Sports Psychology
Laboratory at the University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign
•
Psychology of Coaching
•
Psychology of Athletics
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
History
• Periods of Development
• Period 3 – Preparation for the Future
• 1939 – 1969
•
Franklin Henry
•
•
1938:
1965:
Establishes graduate program
in Psychology of Physical
Activity
First World Congress of Sport
Psychology
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
History
• Periods of Development
• Period 4 – Establishment of Academic
Sport Psychology
• 1966 – 1977
•
Bruce Ogilvie
•
Applied Sport Psychology Consultants
•
First Annual NASPSPA Conference
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
History
• Periods of Development
• Period 5 – Multidisciplinary Science and
Practice in Sport and Exercise Psychology
• 1978 – 2000
•
Global Growth
•
Applied Issues
•
Qualitative Studies
•
Exercise Psychology
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
History
• Periods of Development
• Period 5 – Multidisciplinary Science and
Practice in Sport and Exercise Psychology
• 1978 – 2000
•
1979:
Journal of Sport Psychology
Established
•
1985:
USOC hires first full-time
sports psychologist
•
1986:
American Association of Applied
Sport Psychologists (AAASP)
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
History
• Periods of Development
• Period 5 – Multidisciplinary Science and
Practice in Sport and Exercise Psychology
• 1978 – 2000
•
1987:
APA Division 47 Developed
•
1989:
Journal of Applied Sport
Psychology
•
1991:
AAASP establishes “certified
consultant” designation
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
History
• Periods of Development
• Period 6 – Contemporary Sport and
Exercise Psychology
• 2001 – Present
•
Training and Educating Students
•
Exercise Psychology Flourishes
•
APA Div. 47 – Sport Psychology as a
Specialized Competency Area
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Myths
•
Psychological (PST) Vs. Mental
Skills Training (MST)
•
Used interchangeably
•
Possible negative connotation
•
Use of term Mental Skills Training can
eliminate negative perceptions
•
Opens door to larger client pool
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Myths
•
Psychological Skills Training (PST)
is for “problem” athletes only.
•
PST is for elite training only.
•
PST provides “quick fix” solutions.
•
PST is not useful.
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
What is Sport Psychology?
•
The scientific study of people and
their behaviors in sport and the
practical application of that
knowledge.
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
What is the objective of Sport
Psychologists?
• Two Objectives
• Understand the effects of psychological
factors on physical or motor performance.
•
How does anxiety affect free throw shooting?
• Understand the effects of physical activity
participation on psychological
development, health and well being.
•
Does running reduce anxiety and depression?
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
What is the objective of Sport
Psychologists?
• Why?
•
To understand and help
• Who?
•
Elite athletes, children, persons who are
physically or mentally disabled, seniors
and average participants
• What?
•
Achieve maximum participation, peak
performance, personal satisfaction, and
development through participation.
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
What is the objective of Sport
Psychologists?
• How?
•
•
Three Roles
•
Teaching
•
Consulting
•
Research
Two Specialties
•
Clinical Sport Psychologist
•
•
Treat clients with emotional disorders
Educational Sport Psychologist
•
Mental Coaches
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
What is Mental Skills Training?
• Systematic and consistent practice of
mental skills for the purpose of
enhancing performance, increasing
enjoyment, or achieving greater sport
and physical activity self-satisfaction.
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
What is the Objective of Mental
Skills Training?
• To assist sport participants in the
development of mental skills to
achieve performance success and
personal well-being.
• To have athletes effectively function on
their own without needing constant
direction from a coach or sport
psychologist.
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Why is MST Important?
“Baseball is ninety percent mental. The
other half is physical.”
-Yogi Berra, Hall of Fame Catcher
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Why is MST Important?
• Mental Toughness
•
•
•
•
•
Focus
Rebound from failure
Cope with pressure
Persist
Realize internal locus of control
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Why is MST Neglected?
• Three Basic Reasons
•
Lack of Knowledge
•
Misunderstanding About Mental Skills
•
Lack of Time
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Skills Vs. Methods
• Skills
•
Qualities to be obtained
• Methods
•
Procedures or techniques used to
develop skills
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
MST Methods
• Arousal Regulation
• Imagery
• Goal Setting
• Attention/Concentration
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Skills & Categories
• Foundation
•
Achievement Drive
•
Self-Awareness
•
Productive Thinking
•
Self-Confidence
• Performance
•
Perceptual-Cognitive Skill
•
Attentional Focus
•
Energy Management
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Skill Categories
• Personal Development
•
Identity Achievement
•
Interpersonal Competence
• Team
•
Leadership
•
Communication
•
Cohesion
•
Team Confidence
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Summary
• Sport Psychology since 1995
• Myths
• Clinical Vs. Educational Sport Psychologist
• Definitions & Objectives
• Methods and Skills
• Holistic Training Program
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Resources
Weinberg, R. S., & Gould, D. (2007).
Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology
(4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Williams, J. M. (Ed.). (2006). Applied Sport
Psychology: Personal Growth to Peak
Performance (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGrawHill.
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
Questions??
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
11th Annual BlazeSports
International Conference on
Paralympic Sport and Physical Activity
September 15-18, 2011
Decatur, GA
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training
535 N. McDonough St.
Decatur, GA 30030
404-270-2000
www.blazesports.org
Headstrong: Sport Psychology and Mental Skills Training