Langholm Academy Langholm Academy National 5 Physical EducationNational 5 Physical Education

Mental factors that can affect Mental factors that can affect performanceperformance

Mental factorsMental factorsMental factors are associated directly with Mental factors are associated directly with cognitive processes within the braincognitive processes within the brain

Some mental factors that can affect performance Some mental factors that can affect performance are:are:

Concentration*Concentration*Decision making*Decision making*Problem solvingProblem solvingMental toughnessMental toughnessMotivationMotivationAnxietyAnxietyJudgement and evaluation (processing informationJudgement and evaluation (processing information))

ConcentrationConcentration

‘… ‘…concentration is your brain’s ability to concentration is your brain’s ability to focus on what is going on within a focus on what is going on within a performance situation. The brain is able to performance situation. The brain is able to use all your body’s senses to pick up use all your body’s senses to pick up information about what has to be done.’information about what has to be done.’

A brain that is trained to concentrate can A brain that is trained to concentrate can shut out unimportant distractions and shut out unimportant distractions and focus completely on what you have to do.focus completely on what you have to do.

ConcentrationConcentrationPositive impacts on performance:Positive impacts on performance:

Good concentration allows you to:Good concentration allows you to:

Direct focus (e.g. who you have to mark, where the Direct focus (e.g. who you have to mark, where the shuttle should be played, where the court lines are)shuttle should be played, where the court lines are)

Make fewer mistakesMake fewer mistakes

Stay calm in competitive situationsStay calm in competitive situations

Solve problems during pressurised situationsSolve problems during pressurised situations

Have overall control over your performanceHave overall control over your performance

ConcentrationConcentrationNegative impacts on performance:Negative impacts on performance:

A performer who is unable to concentrate will:A performer who is unable to concentrate will:

Find it difficult to compete with their opponentFind it difficult to compete with their opponent

Be affected by a crowd supporting the oppositionBe affected by a crowd supporting the opposition

Find it difficult to carry out role-related duties within a Find it difficult to carry out role-related duties within a teamteam

Be unable to cope well with any mistakes made while Be unable to cope well with any mistakes made while performingperforming

Decision MakingDecision Making By being able to make decisions By being able to make decisions

early, we learn to ‘read’ a situation early, we learn to ‘read’ a situation and establish which things are and establish which things are unimportant, less important and very unimportant, less important and very important. This helps us anticipate important. This helps us anticipate what what might might happen and we can happen and we can begin to think ahead to plan our begin to think ahead to plan our possible course of action.possible course of action.

Decision MakingDecision Making Decision making within a performance Decision making within a performance

environment means making use of:environment means making use of:

Our senses (sight, hearing, and kinaesthetic)Our senses (sight, hearing, and kinaesthetic)

Our past experiencesOur past experiences

Our ability to ‘read’ situations and know what needs Our ability to ‘read’ situations and know what needs to be done to be done

Decision MakingDecision MakingPositive impacts on performance:Positive impacts on performance:

Good decision making allows you to:Good decision making allows you to:

Select and execute the correct skill at the correct timeSelect and execute the correct skill at the correct timeBe in the right place at the right time to execute skillBe in the right place at the right time to execute skillSolve problems in pressurised situationsSolve problems in pressurised situations

Decision making skills can be developed by Decision making skills can be developed by remembering/using previous experiences and outcomes remembering/using previous experiences and outcomes and learning from themand learning from them

By being able to do the right thing at the right time in the By being able to do the right thing at the right time in the correct way we are more likely to be successfulcorrect way we are more likely to be successful

Decision MakingDecision MakingNegative impacts on performance:Negative impacts on performance:

A performer without good decision making skills will:A performer without good decision making skills will:

Struggle to solve performance based problemsStruggle to solve performance based problems

Frequently make mistakes during competitive situationsFrequently make mistakes during competitive situations

Find it difficult to take advantage of an opponentFind it difficult to take advantage of an opponent

– Missing performance cuesMissing performance cues– Lack of anticipation (not considering what they might do)Lack of anticipation (not considering what they might do)– Unable to exploit weaknessesUnable to exploit weaknesses

Measuring Mental factors that Measuring Mental factors that affect performanceaffect performance

Methods of gathering information Methods of gathering information about mental factors that can affect about mental factors that can affect performance:performance:

QuestionnairesQuestionnaires

Observation schedulesObservation schedules

SCAT testSCAT test

Profile of mood status (POMS)Profile of mood status (POMS)

Example of decision making Example of decision making observation schedule for Badmintonobservation schedule for Badminton

YESYES NONOGets back to the Gets back to the ‘ready position’ ‘ready position’ frequently during frequently during ralliesrallies

Uses appropriate Uses appropriate movement around movement around the court (e.g. the court (e.g. chassis step)chassis step)

Often chooses the Often chooses the correct shot to play correct shot to play to exploit opponents to exploit opponents weaknessesweaknesses

Often chooses Often chooses correct shot to play correct shot to play based on opponents based on opponents court positioncourt position

Example of self reflection Example of self reflection questionnairequestionnaire

ALWAYSALWAYS OFTENOFTEN SOMETIMESSOMETIMES NEVERNEVERI use the ready I use the ready position after position after my shotsmy shots

I play the I play the shuttle away shuttle away from my from my opponentopponent

I use the I use the correct shot at correct shot at the correct the correct timetime

I win points I win points when under when under pressurepressure

Approaches to develop Approaches to develop performanceperformance

VisualisationVisualisation

Relaxation techniquesRelaxation techniques

Mental rehearsalMental rehearsal

Positive discussions (self/coach)Positive discussions (self/coach)

HomeworkHomework

For Friday 2nd OctoberFor Friday 2nd October

– Nat 5 - FIOP booklet completed up to Nat 5 - FIOP booklet completed up to ‘approaches used to develop performance’‘approaches used to develop performance’

– ALL – keep working on development plan and ALL – keep working on development plan and evaluating sessions in training diary.evaluating sessions in training diary.