www.sportingbounce.com - Sporting Bounce
Posted 12/27/2022 in Category 1 by Dylan Rodgers

5 Reasons why Sport Psychology is important

What is sports psychology?


Sports psychology is the scientific study of people and their behaviours in sports and exercise contexts and the application of that knowledge (Gill & Williams, 2008). Sports psychologists identify guidelines and principles to help adults and children participate and benefit from sports and exercise activities. The aim of a sports psychologist can range from a wide variety of objectives. We are going to look at 5 reasons why sports psychology is important. 


1 - Integral aspect of performance


Athletes train consistently to improve and enhance their chances of success.  When we look at training, it tends to be broken down into four components; technical, tactical, physical, and psychological. Whenever we lose or don't perform well, we reflect and analyze what went wrong, and the reason why can be arranged into one of these components. Maybe you hadn't practiced a certain technical skill enough or the tactics employed were wrong for that scenario. You might not have been physically ready for the demands of the game or have just come back from an injury. These things all fall into the first three components. However, there are plenty of occasions where you feel technically, tactically, and physically prepared, and the performance still isn't where you want it to be.


This comes down to the psychological component. Maybe you were struggling with anxiety or nerves before the game. You might have made one mistake and your self-confidence got knocked. These are just two simple examples of a psychological impact on performance. Understanding how psychology impacts and influences your performance can support your development to become the best athlete you can be. 


2 - Cope with pressure 


It is undeniable that athletes deal with and cope with pressure. Regardless of what level or age you are performing at, you will have to deal with pressure, Pressure comes from a variety of sources, ranging from parents, coaches, teammates, or even your expectations. This type of stress can easily harm an athlete. An athlete might become distracted and not be motivated to achieve their goals or make a costly mistake in a performance. Pressure can also lead to some athletes struggling with their mental health. 


However. sports psychologists aim to support athletes in dealing with this pressure and developing skills and coping mechanisms to ensure athletes can effectively manage their response to pressure. This could be learning a breathing technique, goal setting, or developing effective self-talk. There are lots of ways for athletes to deal with pressure and a sports psychologist will help an athlete develop a strategy that works for them.


3 - Supporting and raising awareness of mental health    


Everybody has mental health which, like physical health, can change and fluctuate throughout our lives. One in four people in the UK (Mind Charity) will be affected by a mental illness in any year, the two most common being depression and anxiety. Sports people experience a unique set of pressures as mentioned above which can impact our mental health. Sports psychology helps to increase understanding of mental health, educating athletes and support staff. Sports psychologists also help to raise awareness of mental health and help support and create an environment where everyone feels as though they can talk about mental health without being judged. 


4 - Enhance sport and exercise participation


Sport psychology applies to a broad population. Typically sports psychology is seen as helping athletes achieve peak performance. However, sports psychology isn't just concerned with achieving peak performance. Many sports psychologists are concerned with children, seniors, average participants and persons who are physically or mentally disabled. Sports psychology focuses on the psychological factors involved in exercise, developing strategies and interventions to motivate and encourage sedentary people to exercise or analysing the effectiveness of exercise as a potential treatment for depression. 


5 - It can apply to everyday life


The things you learn from sports psychology or a sports psychologist are not only relevant to sports but can applied to all aspects of life. Whether that is supporting someone at your place of work who is struggling or you want to become more motivated at home. The understanding of psychological concepts and learning the techniques and skills to support yourself can help with anything in your life. 


These five reasons quickly give you an understanding of why sports psychology is important. We are seeing more and more sporting organisations utilise this knowledge base and the many sports psychologists around the world. 


Thank you for reading! If you have any questions, or comments, or would like to explore how sports psychology can enhance your performance, feel free to reach out to me at drodgerssportpsych@gmail.com or give me a call at 07475 925 292. I'm here to help you unlock your full potential.


Are You a Business?

1. Register your company
2. Create a searchable listing
3. Connect with more clients

Get Listed Today