SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

Unit 17

M1 M2 M3 M4 D1 D2 D3

Student Name:Unit Tutor: James Barraclough

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7

1

Unit number and title 17. SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

Qualification BTEC NATIONAL EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN SPORT YEAR

Hand-out date 20th September 2013

Hand-in date 4th October 2013Assessor JAMES BARRACLOUGH

Assignment title 1. Effects of personality and motivation on sports performance

The purpose of this assignment is to: Personality/motivation and the potential effects they can have on sports participation and performance have been of interest to researchers since the late 1800s. However, evidence on whether they affect sports performance is still fairly limited and inconclusive. This assignment looks at some of the definitions and theories.

Scenario:You are a (trainee) sport psychology consultant. This sometimes requires you to work with athletes directly to improve performance and sometimes to research information (e.g. to publish research in journals/write blogs to educate the public).You have been asked by the British Association of Sport & Exercise Science (BASES) to write an academic essay to include in their next journal article. It should follow the following structure: introduction (including what you plan to discuss), a section on each subject (personality and effects on performance; motivation and effects on performance; what you might do as a sport psychologist to improve motivation; and whether or not you believe the theories to be correct based on the available evidence). This is to between 1,000 and 3,000 word essay. Ensure you reference and proof read.

Part 1: PersonalityDefine personality. Theories of personality:

Marten’s schematic view Psychodynamic theory Trait theory Situational approach Interactional approach Personality types (type A and type B)

You then need to describe how personality might affect sports performance including: Athletes vs non-athletes Individual vs team sports Elite vs non-elite athletes Type A vs type B Perfectionist/OCD

(P1) Part 2: MotivationDescribe motivation including types (intrinsic and extrinsic)Theories of motivation:

Achievement motivation Attribution theory

You then need to describe how motivation might affect sports performance: Positive Negative Future expectations of success and failure

How can a motivational climate be developed? (TARGET - tasks, authority, reward, grouping, evaluation, timing) (P2)Explain (give reasons for) the effects of personality and motivation on sports performance (M1)Evaluate the effects of personality and motivation on sports performance (i.e. is there an effect?) (D1)

This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose

Assessor

Signature Date

Internal verifier

Signature Date

Unit number and title 17. SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

2

Qualification BTEC NATIONAL EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN SPORT

Hand-out date 11th October 2013

Hand-in date 8th November 2013Assessor JAMES BARRACLOUGH

Assignment title 2. Relationship between stress, anxiety, arousal and sports performance

The purpose of this assignment is to: Stress in sport can have negative and positive effects. It can also affect levels of anxiety (nerves) and arousal (alertness). This assignment looks at definitions of these factors.

Scenario: Your next task is to write a blog for a prominent sport psychology website on the potential effects of personality on an athlete’s performance. Your blog should include pictures/diagrams and hyperlinks to video clips where possible. You have been asked to write a blog (in two parts) including the following information:

Describe stress: Definition Types (eustress and distress) Causes (internal, external, personal, occupational, sports environments) Symptoms (cognitive, somatic and behavioural) Effects on sports performance (nervous system responses, negative mental state, loss of self-confidence and

concentration)Describe anxiety

Definition Types (state and trait anxiety) Cause (negative effect of stress) Symptoms (cognitive, somatic and behavioural) Effects on sports performance (negative mental state, loss of self-confidence and decreased expectations of

success, fear of failure) (P3)

Describe arousal: Definition Theories e.g. inverted U hypothesis, catastrophe theory, individual zones of optimal functioning Effects on sports performance (improvements/decreases in performance, changes in attention, increases in

anxiety levels, choking) (P4)

Explain (gives reasons for) the three theories of arousal and the effect on sports performance (M2)

This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose

Assessor

Signature Date

Internal verifier

Signature Date

Unit number and title 17. SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

Qualification BTEC NATIONAL EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN SPORT

3

Hand-out date 15th November 2013

Hand-in date 6th December 2013Assessor JAMES BARRACLOUGH

Assignment title 3. Group dynamics in team sports

The purpose of this assignment is to: Groups and teams exist in all walks of life and especially in sport – not only team sports, but individual ones as well (individual athletes have support teams behind them). This unit looks at the differences between groups and teams. It also looks at how group processes can be improved including input from a leadership figure.

Scenario:Your next work project is with a group of coaches from Manchester United’s academy. You need to give a presentation to show how processes in groups and teams can affect performance and cohesion. You also need to give them advice on how their behaviour as coaches can influence behaviour in negative and positive ways. Use examples from case studies where you can.

Task 1 : PRESENTATION: Identify factors which influence group dynamics and performance in team sports:Group processes:

Difference between groups or teams Interactive and coactive groups Stages of group development (forming, storming, norming and performing) Steiner’s model of group effectiveness Ringelmann effect, social loafing

Cohesion: Definition e.g. task and social cohesion Creating an effective team climate Factors affecting cohesion e.g. personal, leadership and team factors Relationship between cohesion and performance

Leadership: Prescribed vs emergent leaders Theories of leadership e.g. trait approach, behavioural approach, interactional approach, multidimensional

model Styles e.g. autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire

(P5)

Explain (give reasons for) four factors which influence group dynamics and performance in team sports (M3)

Analyse (strengths and weaknesses of) four factors which influence group dynamics and performance in team sports (D2)

This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose

Assessor

Signature Date

Internal verifier

Signature Date

Unit number and title 17. SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

Qualification BTEC NATIONAL EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN SPORT

Hand-out date 13th December 2013

Hand-in date 17th January 2014Assessor JAMES BARRACLOUGH

4

Assignment title 4. Plan a psychological skills training programme to enhance sports performance

The purpose of this assignment is to: Now that some background has been given on psychological factors in sport, this assignment is concerned with devising and implementing a Psychological Skills Training (PST) programme. This will involve a ‘needs analysis’: identifying areas for improvement and prescribing psychological practices (interventions) to develop these areas.

Scenario:You have been hired by Sport England to work with their Talented Athletes Programme. Choose a sport and select an athlete, this can include an athlete from an individual or team sport. Build a portfolio for your athlete that includes the following sections: assessment; planning; psychological skills (using Thomas’ 7-phase model); review. The programme will culminate in your clients participating in a national competition at the end of week 6.

You will need to put together a portfolio to: Identify the demands of the sport (ALL 4 corners) Assess the needs of your athlete, identifying strengths and areas for improvement(ALL 4 corners) through:

o Pre-competition questionnaireo Performance profiling (P6)

Once you have identified strengths and areas for improvement you must formulate a six-week psychological skills training programme to enhance performance including:

Current situation Aims and objectives with action plan Daily and weekly content of the plan (linked to periodised short, medium and long-term SMART goals) Psychological skills appropriate for each area for improvement (ALL 4 corners) e.g.:

o Goal-setting (link to pre-competition plan and daily/weekly content above)o Arousal control e.g. progressive muscular relaxation, breathing control (centering), psyching up

techniqueso Imagery e.g. mental rehearsal, controlling emotionso Pre-performance routineso Self-talk/positive thinking (P7)

Explain (give reasons for) the design of the six-week psychological skills training programme for a selected sports performer including a review of how successful your client thought the programme was (this can be done from post-performance questionnaires and performance profiling) (M4)

Justify the design of the six-week psychological skills training programme for a selected sports performer, making suggestions for improvement (what can be done better next time) (D3)

This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose

Assessor

Signature Date

Internal verifier

Signature Date

Indicative reading for learners

Textbooks

Adams M et al – BTEC Level 3 National Sport Student Book 1 (Pearson, 2010) Coyle, D (2010) The Talent Code; Arrow BooksCarron A, Hausenblas C, (2005) Group dynamics in sport: FIT Inc USA

5

Dweck, C (2012) Mindset, how you can fulfil your potential; Ballantine BooksGrout, J & Perrin S (2006) Mind Games: Inspirational Lessons from the World's Finest Sports Stars; WileyHardy L, Jones G and Gould G (1996) Understanding psychological preparation for sport: Wiley

Journals

Journal of applied sport psychologyJournal of Sport ScienceFree journal access: http://explore.tandfonline.com/content/pgas/acsm

Websites

www.brianmac.co.uk www.pponline.co.uk www.athleticinsight.com www.thesportinmind.com http://elitesportconsulting.wordpress.com/

6