PSYCHOLOGY SELF CONFIDENCE

1. PSYCHOLOGYSELF CONFIDENCE PRESENTED BY A muller

2. What is Self Confidence? The most consistent factor separating highly successful athletes from the less successful is confidence. Successful athletes know the key to success is believing in themselves. They radiate self confidence in their play.

3. Coaches know that athletes need self confidence to win. They also know that athletes need to win to develop self confidence. The puzzle is how to get the winning /increased self confidence/winning spiral, which breeds success and To get off the losing/ increased diffidence/losing spiral which yields failure.

4. Many athletes believe self confidence is believing they will win. They are told that if they do not feel self positive about defeating the other team, they are thinking like losers. It is this mistaken belief about what self confidence is that often leads to lack of self confidence.

5. What is Self Confidence True self confidence is an athlete’s realistic expectations about achieving success. It is not involved with what athletes hope to do but with what they realistically expect to do. It is the belief that you can successfully perform a desired behaviour. Self confidence is to expect success.

6. What is Self Confidence Confident athletes believe in; 1. themselves. 2. their ability to acquire skills and competencies both physical and mental. 3. their ability to reach their potential. Less confident athletes doubt; 1. whether they are good enough, 2. or have what it takes to be successful.

7. Degrees of Self Confidence Athlete experience degrees of self confidence as follows; 1. Too little confidence (diffidence). 2. Optimum confidence (self - confidence). 3. Much confidence or false confidence (overconfidence). Therefore self confidence represents a continuum from diffidence to overconfidence with optimum (self - confidence) some where in between.

8. As self confidence increases up to some level performance improves. But when it increases beyond the optimal level, performance begins to deteriorate. It deteriorates because overconfidence deludes athletes into believing they are so gifted that they need not prepare diligently.

9. Optimal Self - Confidence Optimal self – confidence is a sign that convinces you that you can achieve your goals. However physical skills and knowledge of the sport help you realise your desired behaviour. Self confidence and competence must be developed together, each nurturing the other. Possessing self – confidence in the absence of competence will lead to false confidence.

10. Diffidence Diffident athletes are afraid of failure and become psychological prisoners of their own negative self- images. They see themselves as losers and become losers. The self – doubts of diffident athlete affect their performance by creating anxiety, loss of concentration and uncertainty of purpose.

11. Diffidence Diffident athletes become self fulfilling prophecies and consequently fall from the ladder of success.

12. Overconfidence Overconfident athletes are falsely confident. Their confidence is greater than their competencies warrant. Two types of overconfident athletes include; 1. Those who believe they are better than they really are. 2. Those who behave confidently on the outside yet underneath are actually diffident and worried about failing in sport.

13. Overconfidence Overconfident athletes avoid situations that threaten their self- confidence. Or find behaviours to protect their fragile egos such as faking injury when they perform poorly. The false confident: -find it difficult to admit their errors, -Are abound with excuses . -Are often difficult to coach because they will not accept responsibility for their mistakes.

14. Benefits of Self-Confidence Positive emotions- being calm, assertive and relaxed under pressure. Concentration – the capacity to focus on relevant cues. Goals – setting and fulfilling challenging goals. Effort- persists in pursuit of achieving the desired result. Game strategies – “playing to win” not “playing to loose” Momentum- displaying a never give up attitude.

15. Building Self- confidence Confidence can be improved through the following; Performance accomplishments-good practices that is well prepared develop confidence. Acting confidently- The more you act confidently the more you become confident. Thinking confidently – A positive attitude is critical to reaching your optimal potential. Imagery – imagining doing the correct thing that you have had difficult in doing. Physical conditioning – Good attributes constitute a key to feeling confident (speed, strength, endurance & flexibility). Preparation – being prepared gives you confidence that you have done everything possible to ensure success.

16. Self –Expectations and Performance Positive expectations for success produce positive effects Expecting to beat a tough opponent or perform a difficult can produce exceptional performance.

17. Self- Fulfilling Prophecy (SFP) Occurs when coaches’ expectations prompt athletes to behave or perform in a way that conforms to those expectations

18. Self – Fulfilling Process Can be described as a series of 4 key steps. 1. coaches develop expectations for how athletes should perform. 2. Coaches’ expectations influence their treatment of individual performers (i.e frequency, duration, and quality of interactions). 3.Coaches’ behaviour affect athletes’ rate of learning and level of performance. 4.The cycle is completed if the athletes’ behaviour or performance conforms to the coaches’ expectations.

19. Sources of Sport Self confidence There are nine sources of confidence specific to sport: 1. Mastery – developing and improving skills. 2. Demonstration of ability – showing ability by winning and out performing opponents. 3. Physical and mental preparation – staying focused on goals and prepared to give maximum effort. 4.Physical self presentation – athlete feeling good about own body and weight. 5. Social support – getting encouragement from team- mates, coaches and family.

20. Sources of Sport Self confidence 6. Coaches’ leadership – trusting the coaches’ decisions and believing in their abilities. 7. Vicarious experience – seeing other athletes perform successfully. 8. Environmental comfort – athlete feeling comfortable in the environment he/she is performing in. 9. Situational favourableness – athlete seeing breaks going her/his way and feeling everything is going right.

21. Assessing Self - confidence • It is important that athletes identify confidence in a variety of situations. • Athletes may do this by answering the following questions: • When am I confident? • How do I recover from mistakes? • When do I have self doubts? • Is my confidence consistent throughout the event? • Am I tentative and indecisive in certain situations? • Do I look forward to and enjoy tough, highly competitive games? • How do I react to adversity?