Imagery
Mental practice can be performed in a number of ways but one of the most well-known techniques is imagery. Imagery is the mental representation of a specific action without the …
Course: Mental Skills Training for Sport and Health
Case study examples
In this activity, you now have the opportunity to put what you have learned about goal setting into practice. Read the case studies of Phoebe, Ibrahim, and Geoff that we …
Time phased goals
While you should always give an athlete enough time to achieve a goal, you do not want to give them so long that the goal becomes tedious. The time given …
Introduction to anxiety
Participating in sport naturally brings with it feelings of excitement and nervousness. Individuals may tense up during competition at critical points or experience sensations like ’butterflies in the stomach‘ days …
Introduction to motivation and directions of motivation
Motivation is critical to success. Without sufficient motivation, athletes may struggle to dedicate themselves to training or overcome challenges. Outside of elite sport, people may need motivation to engage in …
What is a case study?
Throughout this course, we will be referring to case studies as practical examples of how mental skills training can be applied. We have selected three examples from very different backgrounds …
Goal Setting to Increase Motivation for Sport and Health
Motivation Goal setting has application for all levels of sport performer. Research demonstrates that over 50% of individuals who join a fitness program or sports class will drop out within …
Outcome goals, performance goals, and process goals
A goal can be defined as “attaining a specific standard of proficiency on a task, usually within a specified time” (Locke, Shaw, et al., 1981)1 and can broadly be categorised …
Motivational interpretation of self-talk statements
Generally, sport and exercise psychologists have conceptualised self-talk as either positive or negative and motivational or instructional in nature. A number of different factors will play a role in helping …
Applications in clinical settings
As mentioned previously, mental practice is not only an effective tool for helping athletes improve performance, it can also be used to help people with medical conditions that affect their …
Practical applications of mental practice in sport and exercise
Athletes can use mental practice for a variety of purposes. The following include not only improving psychological skills but physical ones also. Psychological skills Improve concentration: Sometimes an athlete can …
Introduction to self-talk
We all have an inner voice (self-talk) that acts as a running commentary on our lives. This commentary can be positive or negative, said aloud or kept within, and have …
Functional equivalence
Many studies have shown us that mental practice can be very effective for improving performance, but how and why does it work? There are a few different ideas but neuropsychology …
Action observation
Another form of mental practice is action observation. Much like imagery, action observation involves the mental rehearsal of an action without any accompanying physical movement. Where it differs from Imagery …