Sports Psychology Level 3 Certificate Course

There are 8 lessons:

1 Introduction

• Introduction
• History of Sports Psychology
• Performance Psychology
• Physiological Psychology
• Psychophysiolog
• Exercise Psychology
• What is the Difference Between Sports and Exercise Psychologists?
• Environmental Influences
• Aspects of Sports Psychology
• Applying Sports Psychology

2 Psychological Traits of Successful Athletes

• Personality traits are different to Psychological disposition
• Personality Traits
• Personality Types
• Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory of Personality (1933)
• Hollander’s Personality Structure
• Psychological Core
• Typical Responses
• Role Related Behaviour
• Drive Theory
• Psychological Dispositions
• The Sporting Personality
• Concentration
• Psychological Attributes can predict Success
• Personality Theories – An Overview
• The Interactionist Approach
• Stress and Stressors
• Self-esteem and improved involvement in physical activity
• Learned Helplessness
• So what are the benefits of understanding the personality profile of athletes?

3 State of Mind.

• Anxiety and Arousal - an Introduction
• Anxiety: State Anxiety, Trait Anxiety, Physiology of Anxiety, Psychology of Anxiety, Competitive anxiety, Relationship Between Emotional Arousal and Performance
• Arousal: Physiology of Arousal, Psychology of Arousal, Choking
• Cognitive Technique
• How to Maximise Psychological State: Ways to ‘Psych’ Yourself into a Peak Psychological State, Ways to Prevent Choking, Relaxation Techniques, Imagery/Visualisation

4 Motivation

• Basic principles
• Intrinsic motivation
• Extrinsic motivation
• Motivation and Goals: McClelland’s achievement motivation theory, Factors affecting motivation
• Maintaining Motivation - Expectations - Vicious and Virtuous Cycles: Vicious cycle, Virtuous cycle, Self belief and Self talk
• Motivation for Fitness and Weight Control: Nutrition and sport, Weight control
• Slimming for Fun
• Think Before You Eat: Eating disorders and athletes, Endurance sports and eating disorders, Sports psychologists and fitness programmes, Motivation for a personal trainer

5 Aggression

• Anger: Anger Management, Techniques to encourage, Strategies to Manage Anger, Anger can Damage an Athlete’s Performance, Useful Concentration Techniques
• Aggression in Sport: Theories of Aggression (Biological (or Instinct), Frustration-Aggression, Environmental Factors, Types of Aggression in Sport, Steroids in Sport
• Measuring Aggression
• Conflict
• Conflict Handling Techniques: Competing, Soothing, Avoiding, Compromising, Joint Problem Solving

6 Leadership & Coaching

• A Coach's Role
• Coaching or Leadership Styles: Leadership Characteristics
• Getting Attention: Hints for Leading Activities
• Questioning
• Punishment: Strategies for Dealing with Poor Performance, Developing a Coaching Philosophy, Know Yourself, Obstacles Encountered – The Coaching Context, Understanding Athletes, The Coaching Process

7 Team Dynamics

• A Group
• A Team: Team Dynamics, Goals
• Steps in Building a Team: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing
• Traits of an Effective Team: Suitable membership, Appropriate Leadership, Commitment to the Team, Concern for Achieving, Effective and Well Organised Work Methods and Procedures, Ability to Take Criticism, Creative Strength, Positive Relationships, Positive Environment, Team Roles, Developing the Ideal Team
• Factors Affecting the Team Environment: Autonomy, Support, Pressure, Recognition, Trust, Fairness, Innovation, Cohesiveness, Cohesion, Loafing

8 Special Groups

• Children
• Readiness
• Dropping out
• Stress
• Post Game/Season Evaluation
• Gender Differences: Elite Female Athletes, Special Considerations with Female Athletes, Eating Disorders, Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge-Eating Disorder, Disabled Persons