Question

Sport Psychology

Solving Common Problems in PST

Assume that you're implementing a psychological skills training program for a high school soccer team. Discuss and document how you would solve the following PST problems.

Lack of conviction -

Lack of time -

Lack of sport knowledge -

Lack of follow-up -

Answer 1

Lack of conviction

This is mostly a lack of proper training to make the players believe in themselves. The following shall be followed to improve the players condition.

1. Arrange a group discussion and group meeting and ask the players to discuss about themselves. Bring the team closer.

2. Give topics to discuss and improves their knowledge.

3. Motivate the members of the group to avoid negative talk

4. Ask the coach to give the talk on the achievements of the players and how well the entire team did on the field.

5. Report the best performances regularly in a blog, on other social networking sites.

6. Try to create a fan base and allow fans to interact with the players. Allow the players to open up about their difficulties and their future aim to the fans.

7. Keep reminding the team about the hard work they are doing, missing or keeping up and how it is going to give them the success or big break.

8. Ask the players to share their insecurities with an open mind to the trainer, coach and their close friends in the team.

Lack of time

All have 24 hours in a day and the players shall find it tough to manage due to their personal commitments and other academic works. The following can help them to manage time.

1. Create a schedule for the players and monitor each player accordingly.

2. Give players the morning wake up call assistance. Help them move throughout their day by managing their appointments and time they should spend for academics, outside, etc.

3. Insists on the fact that everybody has 24 hours. Using them wisely makes the difference.

4. Use motivational speeches by football personalities and other eminent sports personalities to motivate the players.

5. Help the player to skip, give up the unwanted activities they follow in a day

6. Help the player to understand the importance of time and how it can change their life when used effectively through counseling.

Lack of sport knowledge

The players shall be given the sport knowledge through a lot of on field and off the field activities.

1. Make and distribute notes that are easy to remember.

2. Use podcasts, presentations to provide the players with resources all the time

3. Use group discussion and brain storming sessions.

4. Use videos and documentaries to help the players understand the subjects and get enriched with the knowledge.

5. Make the players give a presentation and talk about the topics that can be helpful to them as well as to the team.

Lack of follow-up

This is the most important part of the PST and coaches, trainers, academic heads, teachers shall be involved for the betterment of the players.

1. Create a feedback system using feedback forms by using printed materials or by using online mode.

2. Insist the players to discuss about their status every week on the time they are convenient.

3. If the players cannot turn up, they can be motivated to leave a podcast or video file that contains their status.

Important: Involve at least one family member of the player in all the activities and keep them updated about the status, improvement of the player every week, month. The support from the family shall help the players to stay focused and achieve in academics as well as in sports together.

All the above shall help the players to stay disciplined and be a winner.