Application of Psychology in Physical Education and Sports

Once we know what sports psychology is, the next question for CBSE Class 11 Physical Education is a practical one: where is it actually used? Many strategies and procedures are used to deal with the problems that athletes and other participants face. These applications fall into three broad areas.

1. Cognitive and behavioural skills training for performance enhancement

This is the direct work of making an athlete perform better by training the mind. It includes:

• concentration and attention-control strategies;
• goal setting;
• imagery training (mentally rehearsing a skill or situation);
• cognitive-behavioural self-regulation techniques for managing one's own thoughts and responses.

2. Counselling and clinical interventions

This area offers support for the personal and clinical difficulties that can affect an athlete, including help with:

• athletic motivation;
• over-training and burnout;
• eating disorders and weight management;
• substance abuse;
• grief, depression, loss and suicide;
• sexual-identity issues;
• aggression and violence;
• athletic injury and rehabilitation;
• career transitions and identity crises.

3. Consultation and training

This area works with teams, families and professionals rather than only the individual athlete. It includes:

• team-building programmes for sports teams and organisations;
• consultations with sports organisations on behaviour economics;
• systems interventions with the parents and families involved in youth sport;
• educating physical educators, coaches and trainers about the role of interpersonal and leadership skills in developing talent; …