Sport PsychologySport Psychology

Session 4 - ConcentrationSession 4 - Concentration

Session ObjectivesSession Objectives

Put sports into categories relating to the Put sports into categories relating to the levels of attentional focus requiredlevels of attentional focus required

Identify barriers to concentrationIdentify barriers to concentrationDescribe strategies to improve Describe strategies to improve

concentrationconcentration

Recap -ConcentrationRecap -Concentration Concentration is the ability to maintain Concentration is the ability to maintain

f____ on relevant e___________ cues. f____ on relevant e___________ cues.

Being able to focus on a task in handBeing able to focus on a task in hand

If the athlete l_____ concentration then If the athlete l_____ concentration then their athletic a______ will not be effectively their athletic a______ will not be effectively or efficiently applied to the task or efficiently applied to the task

Recap-ConcentrationRecap-Concentration

Concentration is seen to have 3 parts Concentration is seen to have 3 parts ::

Focusing on relevant e_________ c___Focusing on relevant e_________ c___

Maintaining a________ F_____Maintaining a________ F_____

S______ A________S______ A________

RecapRecap

The demand for concentration varies The demand for concentration varies with the sport: Complete the tablewith the sport: Complete the table

SustainedSustained

ConcentrationConcentrationShort busts of Short busts of ConcentrationConcentration

Intense Intense ConcentrationConcentration

BROAD

NARROW

EXTERNAL INTERNALDIRECTION

WIDTH

Activity 1Activity 1

Identify 8 sport situations and Identify 8 sport situations and separate them into the different separate them into the different types of attentional focus they types of attentional focus they require : require :

Activity 2Activity 2

Name as many barriers to concentration Name as many barriers to concentration as you can?as you can?

Barriers to ConcentrationBarriers to Concentration

Anxiety Anxiety Mistakes Mistakes Fatigue Fatigue Weather Weather Public announcements Public announcements Coach / Manager Coach / Manager Opponent Opponent Negative thoughts Negative thoughts

Why did these athletes lose Why did these athletes lose concentration?concentration?

Improving ConcentrationImproving Concentration

Maintaining FocusMaintaining FocusSet process goals for each session or Set process goals for each session or

competition. e.g. sprinting technique competition. e.g. sprinting technique requires the athlete to focus on being requires the athlete to focus on being tall, relaxed, smooth and to drive tall, relaxed, smooth and to drive with the elbowswith the elbows

Mental RehearsalMental RehearsalDevelop a pre performance routineDevelop a pre performance routine

Activity 4Activity 4

On a piece of paper, On a piece of paper, write down as many of write down as many of the 12 words as you the 12 words as you can recall on the next can recall on the next page.page.

Are you able to recall Are you able to recall all 12 words?  If so, all 12 words?  If so, you are seem to have you are seem to have good concentration good concentration skills skills

Concentration TestConcentration Test

Glass Glass FrameFrame Fall Fall SpeakerSpeaker ReadyReady BasketBasket

College College Shoes Shoes

Medium Medium Spoil Spoil Hello Hello FinalFinal

Concentration TestConcentration Test

Glass Glass FrameFrame Fall Fall SpeakerSpeaker ReadyReady BasketBasket College College Shoes Shoes Medium Medium Spoil Spoil Hello Hello FinalFinal

How well did you do?How well did you do?

Why do you think you did Why do you think you did not concentrate as well as not concentrate as well as you might have done?you might have done?

Session ObjectivesSession Objectives

Put sports into categories relating to the Put sports into categories relating to the levels of attentional focus requiredlevels of attentional focus required

Identify barriers to concentrationIdentify barriers to concentrationDescribe strategies to improve Describe strategies to improve

concentrationconcentration