https:// youtube/watch?v=d8DSzLpEru0

1. Importance of Sports Psychology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8DSzLpEru0

2. “ What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve” – Napoleon Hill“Colonel George Hall was captured by the Vietnamese in the war and incarcerated in a prisoner of war camp for seven years – 5 and a half of which were spent in solitary confinement. Prior to the war, Colonel Hall was a golfer, playing off a handicap of four, and to keep himself from going crazy in prison, every day he would visualise playing a round of golf. He would play each shot, and each hole in his mind, and every day he’d play a different golf course.When he was finally released and returned to the USA, shortly afterwards he was invited to play in a celebrity pro-am tournament, and despite being underweight and suffering from malnutrition from his ordeal, he hit a round of 76…. right on his handicap, despite not having held a golf club for over seven years.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahbVlDT0ehY&list=PL35WFrL76dnf2A-fz9Gn2qQwwzQg-zzVA Why is this possible?

3. Imagery/Mental RehearsalWhat???? Mental imagery, or visualisation sometimes called mental rehearsal, involves the athlete imagining themselves in an environment performing a specific activity using all of their senses (sight, hear, feel and smell). The images should have the athlete performing successfully and feeling satisfied with their performance. The use of imagery primes their muscles to perform correct technique and to execute appropriate actions in competition, but it also conditions their mind to think clearly about how they will react to certain pressures, situations and problem. Consider it a ‘mental warm-up or walk through” of what you want to see happen. A vivid picture and strong feelings are like a magnetic attraction so be careful of what you picture with feeling, because you will be pulled in that direction. For the novice, Mental imagery may well improve confidence, relieve anxiety and help to control arousal levels.

4. It is safe to assume that we all know our brain is a complex machine. It relies on Electrical transmissions through the neural pathways which fuel our senses. When we learn new skills our brain cells form new connections improving memory- therefore skills. Knowledge is stored in our brain and as we learn it changes and becomes upgraded- with thousands of hours of practice. Imagery/visualisation is a short cut (APP) which primes our mind for what it ultimately instructs our bodies to do. It is also like downloading new software and our brains upgrade quicker. You rehearse entire sequences in your brain without moving a muscle. Every part of a skill or performance is repeated over and over again. The brain is activated when we imagine a movement. Rehearsal in your mind creates pathways in the brain cells as if executing the skill/performance, grooving the actions. Pathways are therefore already in place when a performer carries out the performance leading to confidence, self-belief and success.

5. When????? • This approach is carried out daily before, during and after training and focuses on different elements of the performance. Targets are set for all mental training to replicate goals during practice. Every eventuality should be visualized so that the performer is fully prepared for unpredictable situations. It is equally if not more important than the physical training. • Michael Phelps swimming coach admittedly broke his goggles during training to enable the Olympic medallist to practice swimming without them should it every happen during competition. He was able to visualise this eventuality to mentally prepare. Ironically, it did during the 100m butterfly in the 2008 Olympics and Phelps went on to the win the race. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k26Bt1rGIk

6. Why?

7. Imagery Scripts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm1Syu1gK9s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R-TeTPlYu0

8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LKeD3rHaNY Happy Gilmour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNZLrvy09Oc Tackling Fuel

9. Weaknesses

10. Explain one approach to develop this factor. (4)One mental sub factor that may impact performance is level of arousal. If a performer lacks optimum level of arousal, they will begin to make uncharacteristic mistakes and nerves will get the better of them. They will begin to lack confidence in their ability and motivation will decrease. (Intro)To develop level of arousal – and other mental factors- mental rehearsal can be used. The brain is activated as we imagine a movement. Rehearsal in your mind creates neural pathways in the brain cells. Pathways are therefore already in place when a performer executes the skill/performance. √ This approach is carried out daily and can be applied in training, before and during performance. Initially, in a calm, relaxed environment a performer will visualise potential situations in a match and how they will react to these situations widening knowledge (Emotions, sound, skill, success). √ Also, a performer will repeatedly go over skills within their performance and this will groove their action without the physical effort doubling the amount of training. √ Going over every eventuality in a match will allow a performer to cope with any situation they face and being mentally prepared will allow a performer to condition their mind and focus in a pressurised situation. √ Using mental rehearsal can also control nerves and increase confidence in a pressurised situation and a performer will be able to regain focus and rebound from mistakes and use their skills in visualisation to recall from previous experiences and correct the mistakes made. √ This approach ensures a performer is both mentally and physically prepared to perform at an optimum level.

11. One advantage of mental rehearsal is removing the physical and often strenuous side from practice. Because mental rehearsal requires no taxing bodily actions the performer suffers none of the physically demanding draw backs from practicing like fatigue and injury. Through mental rehearsal a performer can perform the action over and over again without any risk of becoming tired and expending unnecessary energy meaning they can perform much more often and for longer doubling the amount of training ensuring the athlete is at their mental and physical peak for their performance as they will be fresher. (Evaluation) • If a performer is new to this approach they do not have the skills ability and activity experience to imagine a wide range of situations. They will lack motivation as they will find it counterproductive and will rush use of this approach in competition. As they transfer it into the match, they may crumble in confidence as they are unsure of how to correct mistakes as they don’t have the experience. In addition, a player will become increasingly stressed as they are unable to control their emotions and focus on their performance. As the stress builds up the brain becomes fussy and overloaded resulting in a dip in form. Their inexperience means that they cannot ignore distractions and apply rehearsal at key moments before arousal peaks. The emotions get the better of them and by this time it is too late. (Catastrophe effect)