The Sport Psychology Consultant: Analysis of Critical Components as Viewed by Canadian Olympic Athletes

1987 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry Orlick ◽  
John Partington
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Olympic Games ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Mental Training ◽  
Olympic Athletes ◽  
Critical Components

Intensive interviews were conducted with each of 75 Canadian Olympic athletes representing 19 different sports in order to evaluate the sport psychology services offered to them. Athletes representing 12 of the sports indicated they had worked with 1 of 11 sport psychology consultants in preparation for the 1984 Olympic Games. Some were highly satisfied with their consultant and his or her mental training program, others were highly dissatisfied. A profile of the best and worst consultants was developed based upon the athletes’ perceptions of desirable and undesirable consultant characteristics. Suggestions are provided for improving the quality of sport psychology services for elite athletes.

The Sport Psychology Consultant: Olympic Coaches’ Views

1987 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Partington ◽  
Terry Orlick
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Olympic Games ◽  
Mental Training ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Wide Range

Individual interviews were conducted with 17 Canadian Olympic coaches in order to assess sport psychology consultants and services provided to their athletes and teams in the 4 years leading up to the 1984 Olympic Games. The coaches represented a wide range of sports; all but 2 had worked directly with a sport psychology consultant in preparing their athletes for the Olympics. A total of 21 consultants were reviewed and evaluated. The coaches outlined their personal criteria for assessing the effectiveness of a sport psychology consultant and his or her mental training program. A consensus regarding desired personal consultant characteristics is presented, as well as coaches’ reasons for retaining or terminating the services of a sport psychology consultant.

The Role of the Sport Psychology Consultant: A Case Study of Ultra-Distance Running

1989 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Bull
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Crisis Intervention ◽  
Psychological Profile ◽  
Mental Training ◽  
Descriptive Framework ◽  
Ongoing Evaluation

This article presents a case study describing the contribution of a sport psychology consultant to an ultra-distance runner’s attempt to complete 500 miles (800 kilometers) in 20 days through the deserts of North America. The contribution can be considered in four phases that provide a descriptive framework for the role of a sport psychology consultant: (a) establishing a rapport with the athlete, (b) formulating a psychological profile, (c) evaluating the demands of the athletic pursuit and planning an appropriate mental training program, and (d) ongoing evaluation of progress and crisis intervention.

scholarly journals Sleep-Wake Cycle of Elite Athletes Prior to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-80
Author(s):  
F V Narciso ◽  
A Silva ◽  
DF Rodrigues ◽  
JPP Rosa ◽  
F Viegas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Olympic Games ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Team Sports ◽  
Sleep Efficiency ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Quality Of Sleep ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Individual Sports

Objective: To analyze chronotype, duration and quality of sleep among elite athletes, to compare differences in sleep variables between sex, and to compare differences between athletes of individual and team sports. Method: The sample included 70 Brazilian elite athletes of both sex (male=37; female=33) with a mean age 23.0 ± 4.0 years old. To measure sleep-wake cycle, athletes wore an actigraph on the wrist for 10 days. Moreover, athletes answered the chronotype questionnaire of Horne and Östberg. Results: The most athletes are intermediate-type (n=55, 78.6%), with a mean of 07h:18min of sleep per night. The athletes demonstrated higher sleep fragmentation (39.26 ± 23.66 minutes) and higher sleep latency (30.88 ± 16.19 minutes) during pre-competition training days. Additionally, the athletes of individual sports demonstrated more fragmentation (p<0.001) and less sleep efficiency (p<0.001) compared athletes of team sports. However, there was no significant difference in all sleep variables between the male and female sex. Conclusion: The overall elite athletes presented poor sleep quality during the training periods prior to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and individual athletes showed higher fragmentation and poorer sleep efficiency compared to team athletes.

The Sport Psychology Consultant Evaluation Form

1987 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Partington ◽  
Terry Orlick
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Evaluation Form ◽  
Olympic Athletes ◽  
Consultation Services ◽  
Evaluation Inventory

An evaluation inventory was developed to help sport psychology consultants assess and improve the field services they provide. Consultant characteristics included in the inventory were based on extensive interviews with Olympic athletes and coaches. The inventory was administered to 104 Canadian Olympic athletes who assessed 26 sport psychology consultants. Data from this survey were used to determine the validity and reliability of the Sport Psychology Consultant Evaluation Form (CEF). Practical suggestions are provided for enhancing the quality of sport psychology consultation services through the use of the CEF.

Self-Determination Theory: A Case Study of Evidence-Based Coaching

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford J. Mallett
Keyword(s):  
Olympic Games ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Motivational Climate ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Development Of Expertise

The coach is central to the development of expertise in sport (Bloom, 1985) and is subsequently key to facilitating adaptive forms of motivation to enhance the quality of sport performance (Mallett & Hanrahan, 2004). In designing optimal training environments that are sensitive to the underlying motives of athletes, the coach requires an in-depth understanding of motivation. This paper reports on the application of self-determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985; Ryan & Deci, 2000) to coaching elite athletes. Specifically, the application of SDT to designing an autonomy-supportive motivational climate is outlined, which was used in preparing Australia’s two men’s relay teams for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

scholarly journals Dual Career Development Perspective: Factors Affecting Quality of Post-sport Career Transition of Employed Olympic Athletes

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Robnik ◽  
Edvard Kolar ◽  
Boro Štrumbelj ◽  
Marko Ferjan
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Career Transition ◽  
Dual Career ◽  
Career Transitions ◽  
Olympic Athletes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Career Employment ◽  
Development Perspective

Although Olympic athletes are celebrated for their sports achievements, they often face serious difficulties in their post-sport career employment. Factors of development that are affecting the quality of post-sport career transition of Olympic athletes are important to acknowledge in the dual career (DC) development perspective. Due to the side lining of academic activities, athletes are often not well prepared for the labor market. If they do not gain sufficient financial background in their careers, it can lead to a lack of proper economic inclusion of athletes in their post-sport career employment and further impact their lives. Career transitions of athletes have been the subject of research in different aspects of DC support (e.g., athletic, psychological, psychosocial, academic/vocational, financial), but most research is linked to the student-athlete DC perspective. Therefore, the aim of our research was to examine the impact of factors directly contributing to the quality of the post-sport career transition in Slovenian elite and Olympic athletes and the social class position and employment of these athletes after the termination of their sports career. From DC support practice, we learned that although athletes often have a proper level of education, their post-sport career transitions were not successful. To fill this gap, 168 elite athletes (Mage = 33.34, SD = 13.1) from Slovenia were asked to complete online questionnaires. The results showed a significant contribution of education and DC support-related finances (e.g., employment of athletes in public administration) to the quality of post-sport career transition. Regarding developing a national DC model and based on empirical research, this study identifies the social class position and employment status of former elite athletes from Slovenia. It also identifies opportunities for further research on the quality of the post-sport career transitions and perspectives on DC support. Understanding how different factors contribute to the integrated development of individual athletes to reach their potential in sports, education, and their post-sport career employment is important for theorists, DC practitioners, and stakeholders working with DC athletes. To develop a sufficient mechanism, DC support providers should consider supporting education along with the financial support of athletes during their sports careers and recognizing study-training ecosystems, based on good practices to successfully transition to their post-sport careers. These findings can also be useful for athletes and their athletic triangle support network (e.g., coaches and parents) as a support in the decision-making.

scholarly journals DURATION AND QUALITY OF SLEEP IN SPRINT AND RECOVERY PERFORMANCES AMONG ELITE SWIMMERS

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-129
Author(s):  
Marco Túlio de Mello ◽  
Mário Antônio de Moura Simim ◽  
Fernanda Veruska Narciso ◽  
João Paulo Pereira Rosa ◽  
Dayane Ferreira Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Olympic Games ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Sleep Time ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Elite Swimmers ◽  
Prospective Comparative Study ◽  
Time Awake

ABSTRACT Introduction: Circadian rhythms can impact athletes' sports performance, where the plateau occurs between 15 and 21 hours. Swimming is a peculiar case, as athletes perform training and final sessions in competitions at different times, as in the Rio2016 Olympic Games for example, where the semifinal and final competitions took place from ten o'clock at night. Objectives: (1) to present the protocol of an intervention performed with elite athletes of the Brazilian swimming team during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio; (2) to find out whether the time at which the competitions were held affected the swimming performances of these athletes during the competition. Materials and Methods: Fourteen athletes of the Brazilian swimming team (males: n= 10; 71% and females: n= 4; 29%) participated in the study. They were followed up during two preparation periods (baseline and intervention) for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio during June and July 2016. During the competition, we recorded the Reaction Time (RT) and Competition Time (CT) of each athlete in different modalities. The intervention strategies used were light therapy and sleep hygiene. The values of RT at the starting block and CT were registered and conferred with the official results. Results: The athletes showed a decrease in the total time awake (Δ = −13%; Effect size [ES] = 1.0) and sleep latency (Δ = −33%; ES = 0.7), and an increase in total sleep time (Δ = 13%; ES = 1.1; p = 0.04) between the baseline and the period of the intervention, pre-competition. We identified an improvement in the RT (Δ = −2.2% to −1.0%; ES = 0.2 to 0.5) during the competition only for the athletes who participated in the competition finals. Conclusion: We conclude that the intervention carried out was effective in mitigating any negative influence of competition time on the RT and CT of elite athletes of the Brazilian swimming team. Level of evidence II; Prospective comparative study.

scholarly journals The Relation between Olympians and Employees of the Media in Hungary: Motivations, Attitudes, Rejection

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes Kovacs ◽  
Tamas Doczi
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Olympic Games ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Public ◽  
Olympic Athletes ◽  
General Terms ◽  
The Media ◽  
Research Questions

Abstract In the present study, we examine the relation between Olympians and employees of the media in Hungary through the following terms: motivations, attitudes, and rejection. The empirical research presented in this paper focused on the following research questions: 1.What motivates Olympians and employees of the media in their cooperation? 2. What kind of attitudes characterise them in their relation? 3. Why and how often do employees of the media get rejected by elite athletes? In the framework of the research, a survey was carried out among the Hungarian Olympic athletes participating at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (N=104) and on the total population of media workers accredited to the Olympics (N=28). The data were collected by two questionnaires. The first one contained 31 questions for the Olympians, and the second one had 26 questions for the media workers. The two versions included overlapping sections as well, which made it possible to explore the respondents’ views on the same topic and get comparable outcomes in some cases. The analysis aims to present and contrast the viewpoints of Olympians and employees of the media with each other. The results show that over half of elite athletes do not like to participate in the media, but they are aware that it is necessary; that is the reason why many of them mostly accept sport related interview requests. Parallel with this, media workers assume that the majority of elite athletes like to appear in front of the public. In general terms, the main goals for elite athletes are to train well, to qualify for major international meets, and to achieve outstanding results. On the other side, the intentions of the media workers is to publish stories to the audience, which could be positive, negative, informative, provocative, or sensational. Elite athletes and employees of the media need to be more aware of each other’s motivations, attitudes and aims for better understanding each other.

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