TABLE of contents :
1. Section A - Initial contact with the athlete.
2. Section B - Literature research
3. Section C - Intervention
4. Section D - Feedback
5. Section E - Overall Reflection
PYC4812
ASSIGNMENT 02
Student nr 7790422
Doing Sport Psychology
TABLE of contents :
1. Section A - Initial contact with the athlete.
2. Section B - Literature research
3. Section C - Intervention
4. Section D - Feedback
5. Section E - Overall Reflection
Section A - Initial Contact with the Athlete.
My research required me to have meetings with any active athlete competing competitively in
any sport with relation to her personal experience of performance achievement. I chose a cross
country running athlete. Because of Covid-19 THERE IS NO COMPETITIVE SPORT. Cross country
athletes can still practice and compete because it is not a contact sport. The participant is a 16
your old female athlete in highschool Grade 10. She has been running for the past 4 years
inspite of covid-19 restrictions.
As all athletes she is also experiencing internal and external factors that has an impact on her
performance like physical, psychological, social , environmental , spiritual, and emotional issues
that will contribute and impact on her performance and success. My focus of the study was
obtaining an in depth account of the issues experienced by her and assisting her to resolve
these with various techniques and practices from the sport psychology literature.
I had a opening interview with the athlete on the track where she was practicing. She has a
track session every Wednesday at 15:00 at the local Highschool. The discussion was very
informal. The athlete was very positive about the possibility of myself helping her with her
preparation for the upcoming season.
Futher interviews were conducted during the week. Meetings took place once a week before
the athletes training sessions. It is noted that a positive rapport was established with the
athlete. It was explained that all the information regarding all interviews and the findings would
be kept confidential and that her identity would not be mentioned in any part of the report. As
stated by Andersen (2000) I was very receptive and listened with attention to the athlete.
My sessions were as described by Andersen (2000) as “hanging out” and informal.
, The following areas were identified as areas where I could help or assist with the performance of the
athlete. The exact words of the athlete were used.
a) Anxiety
“ I get very anxious before a race. I think it takes too much of my energy, if I can just learn to relax.”
b) Mental toughness
“ Long distance running is not a team sport, it is me against myself. I need to be mentally very tough and
strong”
c) Motivation
“ it is very difficult staying motivated after a loss. Injury always makes me feel down “
d) Confidence
“ It is easy being high in confidence if you are doing well. It becomes difficult when your achievements
are not so good”
e) Focus
“ I am still at school. It is hard to stay focused when my schoolwork keeps me busy”
Section B – Literature Research on the Internal factors that play a role in performance
enhancement.
The five basic physical attributes are the primary abilities that all sporting skills come from.
The acronym “S.A.F.E.S. ™”, is an easy way to remember them; Strength, Agility, Flexibility,
Endurance and Speed. https://www.mmawrestlingacademy.com/5-physical-attributes
a) Physiological and Physical attributes.
Every athlete needs to have skills and the ability to perform. Strenght , fitness, stamina speed and
flexibility are but a few that will determaine the success of the athlete. The sport that the athlete take
part in will determaine the which of the attributes will have to be developed in order for the
performance of the athlete.
According to Launder AG, Piltz W (2012) stamina and endurance can be enhanced using the
correct training techniques and repetitive training geared specifically for cross country runners.
Muscle endurance can also be improved by providing the body with optimal nutrition.
Even though a cross-country runner will relay on fitness and endurance speed and flexablility
cannot be overlooked and must be part of the basic training programme of any athlete as this
can enhance performance even more.
Injuries can be prevented by a focused strength , fitness, stamina , speed and flexibility training
programme.
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