Monitor on Psychology - July/August 2012

When Bauman worked with ski jumpers, for example, he noticed that they all looked down to check their bindings before jumping. Putting a relevant word or symbol on each ski helped remind them to do whatever they needed to do. A simple letter “P,” for example, can remind athletes to keep a healthy perspective and focus on their assets — skills, strength and great support staff — rather than negatives — inadequate preparation, tough opponents and the high stakes of competition.

Coaching connections

Working with coaches is another way to make sure sport psychology messages get through to athletes, says Steve Portenga, PhD, chair of the psychological services subcommittee at USA Track and Field.

Portenga has helped develop educational programs that teach coaches basic sport psychology principles and help them understand the needs of special populations, such as younger athletes. The programs also teach coaches interventions they can use to help athletes hone such skills as relaxation.

“You can get to hundreds of athletes through coaching education,” says Portenga. “It’s much more difficult to get to athletes directly.” Plus, he says, coaches usually have more influence over athletes than sport psychologists do, for good or bad.

Portenga recalls working with a college team several
years ago. Just before a match, the coach announced that the
opposing team was one he used to work for and urged his
current team to go out and beat them. “It took only 30 seconds
for the coach to undo the great progress we’d made over the
course of four or five months,” says Portenga. “We had been
focusing on the process — being able to perform at your
best regardless of the outcome — and had been getting good
outcomes.” The result of the coach’s message? Distracted players
and one of the season’s worst meets.

Rebecca A. Clay is a writer in Washington, D.C.

ANNOUNCING THE 2012–2013

APA is pleased to announce a program for universities and colleges—the Psychology Department Program (PDP). This program offers valuable information and useful resources to enhance teaching and learning in psychology.

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