Sport Psychology

[Name of the Institute]

Introduction

In this paper I will be considering five different articles on sport psychology and athletes. The primary focus of this paper is to assess the implication and relevance of tactics used by athletes to achieve their desired goals during the play. Following are some articles which will be discussed in this paper.

Goal Setting

The article highlights the significance of setting goals and objectives in sports. The article presents various examples of athletes who set their goals for the achievement of their desired outcomes. Setting goals is an influential process for an individual to have a hopeful look at the desired future. Goal setting results in self-motivation and helps an individual to transform individual's vision into reality.

The goal setting theory indicates that the goals should be SMART, i.e. specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. However, the article discusses significance of three important strategies to set goals. I agree with the claims presented in the article. It indicates that goals should be based on short term achievements. This factor is relevant to the concept of realistic approach in setting goals. Goals should be designed for short term achievements. This will not on only makes it possible for an athlete to complete short term goals, but also creates a sense of achievement to keep them on the go.

I believe that breaking a bigger task into small targets will drastically improve chances of attaining that objective. For instance, athlete could plan their daily workout and exercise routine to perform their best in a certain competition. Designing and achieving smaller targets will positively affect their confidence by developing a sense of achievement. Finally performance goals are more flexible. Athletes can plan to set performance target which may not be directly related to their primary goal but will improve the possibility of achieving that final objective. For instance, a sprinter can plan to run under 10.5 seconds for the 100m. I totally agree with the claims presented in the article as all these practices will boost the confidence of athletes in accomplishing their desired goals. All these concepts are practical and I can apply them not only in my sports but also in my practical and professional life.

Arousal, Stress and Anxiety

The article discusses various theories on the concept of arousal, stress and anxiety in sports. The drive theory indicates that the presence of certain level of anxiety will cause an athlete to strive for the attainment of desired objectives. Although the terms arousal, stress and anxiety are used interchangeably, sport psychologists and exercise believe it is important to differentiate. The term arousal refers to a general activation of the body physiological and psychological, which varies along a continuum that ranges from deep sleep to intense excitement. The term refers to the dimensions of motivation in terms of intensity at a particular moment in a continuum that extends from the absolute lack of arousal to maximum arousal (i.e., frenzy). The arousal is not associated with pleasant or unpleasant events.

The term anxiety ...