Sport psychology is the study of the interaction between the
physical body and the psychology of the brain during performance. Learning
various mental skills and techniques may offer a variety of advantages to
assist you in improving your performance in sport.
So why don’t athletes utilize these skills more often? The
mind-body relationship is well understood in the sport world: Your mind can
affect how you perform. Yet, many coaches, athletes, and administrators will
not refer their athlete to sport psychologist. Why is this? Let me break down a
few of the misconceptions about sport psychology.
Misconception #1:
Help from a sport psychologist means that you are performing poorly.
Sport psychology has many useful tools that can be used to
enhance performance. What people often overlook is that you do not need to be
performing poorly to benefit from these tools. Many national teams and elite
athletes use mental skills techniques, not just when they haven’t been
performing up to par, but every day in training. The skills take some practice,
but can be useful to anyone at any level.
Misconception #2:
Mental skills training means that you are weak.
Stigma often accompanies the word “psychology.” Seeking out
help from a sport psychologist does not mean that you are weak or incapable, it
simply means that you want to get better. Who wouldn’t want an extra edge on
their opponents?
Misconception #3: You
have to be diagnosed with a psychological illness to benefit from a sport
psychologist.
Sport psychologists do not necessarily work with athletes
who have diagnosed mental disorders. They simply work with athletes who want to
strengthen the mental aspect of their game. For example, a sport psychologist
might help an athlete manage pre-performance anxiety, which is quite common.
However, there are many techniques that sport psychologists can use to aid
performance. These include goal setting, relaxation, and positive thinking.
Misconception #4: The
relationship you have with your sport psychologist.
Many people do not fully understand the relationship that a
sport psychologist has with his/her athletes. The sport psychologist uses
various techniques and interactions to benefit the athlete. You can think of a sport
psychologist as another member on the coaching staff. He/she may attend
practices and competitions to observe athletes in action. Instead of guidance
for proper technique they are coaching the way thoughts can influence an
athlete’s performance.
Overall, there are many different benefits that can come
from learning mental skills from a sport psychologist. Not only are these
skills extremely useful on the playing field, but they can also be beneficial
in other aspects of your life as well.
Kristine Walker
Bowling Green State University
Ideas adapted from:
Gee, C. J. (2010). How does sport psychology actually
improve athletic performance? A framework to facilitate athletes’ and coaches’
understanding. Behavior Modification, 34,
386-402.
Sharp, L., & Hodge, K. (2014). Sport psychology
consulting effectiveness: The athlete’s perspective. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 12, 91-105.
