This article, via discussing various psychological manifestations among Chinese elite athletes, illustrates sociocultural “meridians” in Chinese elite sports including (a) “Whole-Nation system,” (b) Chinese culture, and (c) their interaction. We propose that the sociocultural characteristics be integrated in athletes’ psychological training and further discuss the aspects of (a) cultural inheritance and (b) traditional beliefs, including “harmony with differences,” “doing the best and following the fate,” “Ah Q spirit,” “all are Buddha,” and the balance between Confucianism and Taoism. We suggest that the ultimate goal of sport psychologists is to facilitate the athlete’s overall development, with such a maturing process only achieved by integrating the above factors into athletes’ sociocultural contexts.
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Gangyan Si, Yanping Duan, Hin Yue Li, and Xiaobo Jiang
Jenny Meggs and Mark Chen
This applied sport psychology training request arrived from a National Talent Swim England coach in the northeast of England who wanted to explore psychological training for his national-level competitors in the lead up to the national championships 6 months later. The two sport psychology
Christin Lang, Anna Karina Feldmeth, Serge Brand, Edith Holsboer-Trachsler, Uwe Pühse, and Markus Gerber
In most physical education (PE) syllabuses, promoting life skills constitutes an important educational objective. The aim of this study was to implement a coping training program (EPHECT) within regular PE and to evaluate its effects on coping and stress among vocational students. Eight classes from a vocational school were selected for study; four were allocated to the intervention group (IG) and four to the control group (CG). The study examined intervention effects between pre- and postintervention, and postintervention and 6-months follow-up. Compared with the CG, the IG showed improved coping skills from pre- to postintervention. From postintervention to follow-up, stress decreased for the IG. A path analysis suggests an indirect effect on stress perception at follow-up via improved adaptive coping skills. The findings support EPHECT as a positive contribution to the development of adaptive coping skills. The project further shows how physical educators can translate psychological theory into practice.
Tobias Lundgren, Gustaf Reinebo, Markus Näslund, and Thomas Parling
Despite the growing popularity of mindfulness and acceptance-based performance enhancement methods in applied sport psychology, evidence for their efficacy is scarce. The purpose of the current study is to test the feasibility and effect of a psychological training program based on Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) developed for ice hockey players. A controlled group feasibility designed study was conducted and included 21 elite male ice hockey players. The ACT program consisted of four, once a week, sessions with homework assignments between sessions. The results showed significant increase in psychological flexibility for the players in the training group. The outcome was positive for all feasibility measures. Participants found the psychological training program important to them as ice hockey players and helpful in their ice hockey development. Desirably, future studies should include objective performance data as outcome measure to foster more valid evidence for performance enhancement methods in applied sport psychology.
Jim Taylor
Slumps are a pervasive phenomenon that are in evidence in all sports and at all levels of ability. They are a significant source of concern, confusion, and frustration for athletes and coaches. Yet, despite this, there is a conspicuous lack of knowledge and documentation on the subject. This paper offers an in-depth and systematic examination of slumps in sports. The work is divided into four parts. First, a precise definition of a slump is delineated. Second, the criteria that differentiate slumps from occasional drops in performance are described. Third, an analysis of the causes of slumps is discussed and the notion of serial causation of slumps is presented; examples are given to illustrate these ideas. Finally, a program for the alleviation of slumps, called Slumpbusting, is examined. The Slumpbusting program offers a structured plan that includes goal-setting, counseling, and the constructive, progressive use of physical, technical, and psychological training for the systematic resolution of slumps.
Jeong-Keun Park
This study examined the coping strategies used by Korean national athletes. One hundred-eighty Korean athletes from 41 different sports were interviewed about the coping strategies they used as national athletes, both presently and in the past. Qualitative methodology was utilized in this investigation and the interview transcripts were analyzed inductively. The interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. Themes were identified from the analysis of the interview data. Combining these themes, seven general dimensions of coping strategies were identified: psychological training, training and strategies, somatic relaxation, hobby activities, social support, prayer, and substance use. The most cited coping strategies by national athletes in Korea are similar to the coping strategies of the previous elite figure skaters in the study by Gould, Finch, & Jackson (1993).
Joanne Perry, Ashley Hansen, Michael Ross, Taylor Montgomery, and Jeremiah Weinstock
psychology. First, these assessments could be particularly helpful when creating a sport psychological training plan, as professionals and athletes can specifically address problematic aspects of the physiological response ( Khazan, 2013 ). In the current study, athletes demonstrated more difficulty in
Umut Doğan
use, why, and how effectively would help AIS sport psychology practitioners and researchers capture athletes’ psychological strategy needs more efficiently and comprehensively. This would facilitate a more bespoke psychological training for athletes, which could improve athletes’ psychological
Dajo Sanders, David J. Spindler, and Jamie Stanley
representing more insidious stress state was observed for 12/55 weeks (Figure 1D ). The timing of such occurrences coincided with observations of increased psychological, training, and health-related stress (Figure 1E ). Several life events resulted in intensive psychological, medical, and nutritional
Iñigo Mujika, Luis Villanueva, Marijke Welvaert, and David B. Pyne
or weak competition from fellow swimmers; and in the morning heats or evening finals. The influence of other factors, such as the frequency of minor competitions, dry land training, dietary practices, psychological training, skills and techniques, and other training practices (eg, altitude training
