Psychology Dynamics Of Sport & Exercise Information

Exercise and sport psychology was formally recognized by the American Psychological Association in 2003. Its scope includes the scientific study of the factors that enhance performance in sports and exercise, as well as the effect of participation in sports and exercise on psychological development and health throughout the participant's lifetime.

History

Psychologist Norman Triplett is credited with founding the field of exercise and sport psychology in the United States around the turn of the 20th century, when he observed that bicyclists competing with partners competed better than bicyclists competing alone. Modern exercise and sport psychologists engage in a variety of activities, including teaching, research and consulting with athletes and coaches. Clinical psychologists help athletes with emotional disorders such as anorexia and substance addiction, while educational psychologists focus on improving the performance of athletes with no particular emotional problems.

Factors

Exercise and sport psychology analyzes and maximizes a number of psychological factors related to athletic performance, including composure, confidence, courage, motivation and resilience. The development of these qualities can enhance your athletic performance and also improve your physical and psychological well-being off the playing field.

Goal Setting

Sport psychologist Cristina Bortoni Versari, president of the San Diego University for Integrative Studies, identifies goal-setting as the most commonly used technique of exercise and sport psychology. Effective goal-setting involves setting long-term goals and then breaking them down into "bite-sized" pieces that are specific, easy to measure and within the athlete's control. This combination of objectivity, measurability and control allows the athlete to achieve increased self-confidence and motivation, leading to accelerated improvements.

Creative Visualization

Creative visualization is the act of imagining your performance in an athletic activity in all five senses, with a focus on the visual and kinesthetic experience. It not only allows injured athletes to "practice" in their minds, but also allows healthy athletes to mentally practice under nearly any circumstance. Creative visualization has been shown to improve performance even without actual physical training, according to Coaching Science Abstracts.

Flow

"Flow," also known as "being in the zone" is the goal of all performance-oriented exercise and sport psychology. Psychologist Shane Murphy, a professor at Sacred Heart University, describes flow as "a special place where performance is exceptional and consistent, automatic and flowing. An athlete is able to ignore all the pressures and let his or her body deliver the performance that has been learned so well. Competition is fun and exciting." Great athletes are marked by their ability to reach this state consistently. The attainment of flow is a byproduct of the development of composure, confidence, courage, motivation and resilience.