Psychological Skills Training of an Elite Wheelchair Water-Skiing Athlete: A Single-Case Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginie de Bressy de Guast ◽  
Jim Golby ◽  
Anna Van Wersch ◽  
Fabienne d’Arripe-Longueville

This study presents a complete psychological skills training (PST) program with a wheelchair athlete and examines the program effectiveness using a mixed-method approach. After initial testing, the athlete followed a two-month program of self-confidence building, motivational, visualization/relaxation, and injury management techniques. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to examine the impacts on performance and psychological abilities. The triangulated results suggest that the PST program was perceived as effective by the athlete in terms of his sporting performances and mental skills. The characteristics and implications of a PST program with this wheelchair athlete are discussed, as well as the study limitations and the perspectives for future research.

1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Daw ◽  
Damon Burton

This investigation examined the impact of a comprehensive psychological skills training for tennis (PSTT) program on collegiate tennis players. PSTT players were exposed to three psychological skills (goal setting, imagery, and arousal regulation) and then given the opportunity to develop individualized PSTT programs. Program effectiveness was evaluated through (a) case study analyses, (b) intrateam analyses comparing high- and low-commitment PSTT players, and (c) interteam analyses comparing PSTT (n = 12) and non-PSTT (n = 12) players. Results indicated that the PSTT program was successful, with case studies providing strong support for the effectiveness of individual PSTT programs. Additionally, intrateam results revealed that all PSTT players felt their PSTT program helped their tennis games, although high- and low-commitment players differed significantly on only 2 of 15 psychological and performance variables. As expected, interteam results demonstrated significant differences on only 2 of 15 variables, with PSTT players displaying higher state self-confidence and committing fewer double faults than did their non-PSTT counterparts.


2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Butt ◽  
Robert Weinberg ◽  
Thelma Horn

The purposes of the present investigation were twofold: (a) to investigate the fluctuations of anxiety and self-confidence throughout competition by measuring these variables retrospectively before, during, and after competition and (b) to investigate the relationship between the intensity and directional interpretation of anxiety and perceived performance across competition. Field hockey players (N = 62) completed the modified Mental Readiness Form-Likert (MRF-2) within 30 minutes after competition using the method of retrospective recall. Results indicated significant fluctuations across competition for cognitive anxiety intensity and direction, somatic anxiety intensity, and self-confidence intensity. Results also revealed that the strongest predictors of performance across both halves were self-confidence intensity and direction and cognitive anxiety direction. These findings should have important implications for practitioners and sport psychologists because anxiety measurement and confidence are critical parts of most psychological skills training programs.


2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle J. Paquette ◽  
Philip Sullivan

Multiple conceptual frameworks support the link between coaches’ attitudes and behaviors, and their effect on a variety of athlete outcomes, such as performance, motivation, and athlete self-perceptions. The present study explored the relationships among coaches’ attitudes and behaviors, with respect to psychological skills training (PST), and the beliefs of their athletes. One hundred and fifteen coaches completed PST attitude (SPA-RC-revised) and behavior measures, while 403 athletes completed two perception measures (CCS and SCI). Structural Equation Modeling showed that the proposed relationships were statistically significant, except for the pathway between coaches’ attitudes and their behaviors. Results support the disconnect between coaches’ attitudes and behaviors previously established in PST research, as well as the theoretical links between coaches’ behaviors and athletes’ perceptions (i.e., evaluation of their coach and self-confidence).


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 159-166
Author(s):  
Leigh A. Skvarla ◽  
Damien Clement

Dance makes a number of inherent physical and psychosocial demands that can promote resilience. However, dancers may strive to meet those demands by employing unhealthy coping strategies that can be linked to maladaptive thoughts and behaviors and increased injury risk. The present study utilized a two-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design to examine the impact of a psychological skills training program on coping skills and prevalence of injuries over a 6-week period in a convenience sample of college dance students (N = 30). Participants were drawn from the same dance program and were assigned to a control or treatment condition based on their current class schedule. At the end of the study, there were no significant quantitative differences observed between the treatment and control groups. However, mean scores for treatment group participants' coping skills slightly increased over time. A focus group discussion led to several recommendations for future research and programming improvements. Additionally, this study underscores the need for a single operational definition of injury in a college dance context. Best practices for researchers, practitioners, and educators in the context of psychological skills training are also discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 165 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan Precious ◽  
A Lindsay

This paper will explain the concept behind mental resilience training (MRT) and how the training package was developed and implemented within the British ArmyInfantry Training Centre (ITC) Catterick between 2014 and 2016. MRT is a mindfulness-based psychological skills training package that integrates cognitive behavioural and mindfulness based principles and techniques, which have been proven to improve stress regulation, emotional and cognitive control and self-confidence in military personnel. MRT is based on an extensive evidence base that has demonstrated that psychological skills training delivers tangible improvements in performance in elite sport and in healthcare, business and military contexts. The initial trials at the ITC Catterick have delivered tangible improvements in infantry recruits’ use of psychological skills within real-life training contexts.


Author(s):  
Eui Jae Kim ◽  
Hyun Wook Kang ◽  
Seong Man Park

The purpose of this meta-analysis study was to investigate the effectiveness of psychological skills training interventions for archery players in Korea. A total of 17 research papers examining the effects of psychological skills training interventions were selected for data analysis. To analyze the data, the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software program was used. The results of this study were as follows: The overall effect size of psychological skills training interventions for archery players was ES = 0.469 (Hedges’ g), which was a small effect size. The major factors that influenced the effects of psychological skills training interventions for archery players appeared to be the player level and training period. In particular, adult players and longer periods of training had bigger effect sizes. The results of this study demonstrate that psychological skills training for archery players is effective and show that the player level and training period are crucial factors in the psychological skills training design. Based on these findings, some implications for future research are discussed.


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