Deck 17: Integrating and Implementing a Psychological Skills Training Program

Question 1

Every athlete should be required to use a pre-competition or competition readying procedure.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The demands of the sport need to be carefully analyzed and considered when devising a mental skills training program.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

What is one of the most critical aspects of successfully implementing a mental training program?

A) self-regulation
B) generalization
C) goal attainment
D) problem identification

Answer 3

self-regulation

Question 4

_____ is known as maintaining the behavior over time and across certain situations.

A) Dedicated learning
B) Long term maintenance
C) Generalization
D) Finding "the zone"

Question 5

What is one of the disadvantages of sport psychology consultants conducting mental training programs with teams?

A) their inability to relate to athletes
B) their inability to work with injured athletes
C) their lacking knowledge of the sport
D) lack of day to day availability

Question 6

______ is a technique in which the athlete(s) determines the psychological skills needed for success and then assesses his or her strengths or weaknesses specific to those skills.

A) Performance profiling
B) Foundation skills training
C) Personal development skills
D) Problem identification

Question 7

Who should be conducting psychological skills training programs?

A) coaches
B) teammates
C) parents
D) sport psychologist or certified mental performance consultant

Question 8

As competition nears, the sport psychology consultant should emphasize the one correction that will lead to the greatest improvement in performance.

Question 9

When there is not adequate time or commitment for a comprehensive training program, consultants should avoid:

A) emphasize a few skills
B) superficially work on all skills needed
C) prioritize objectives
D) observing performers

Question 10

When should psychological skills be practiced with physical skills?

A) whenever mental skills are strong
B) as soon as possible
C) after the first practice
D) after the first game

Question 11

Most sports psychology consultants believe the best time to implement a psychological skills training program for a team is:

A) when the team is on a losing streak or not performing up to potential
B) during the off season or preseason
C) during the preseason or right before the competitive season begins
D) just before a championship tournament or meet

Question 12

After reviewing 35 empirical studies, Fletcher and Brown (2017) found:

A) effects were greater when the coach was not involved
B) psychosocial interventions produced the largest, positive effects on performance
C) only male athletes benefit from mental skills training
D) the effect of psychosocial interventions last less than a month after the intervention

Question 13

At the beginning of each special mental training session, the coach or sport psychologist should outline for the athletes:

A) all of these elements should be explained
B) content
C) the purpose
D) approximate time of length of the session

Question 14

An effective psychological intervention does not need to be systematic nor do a variety of mental skills need to be integrated and it can be implemented without considering the sport context and the individual performer or team.

Question 15

What factors outside the psychological realm that influence performance should sport psychology consultants first understand?

A) biomechanics
B) physiological conditioning
C) equipment
D) all of these factors should be understood by sport psychology consultants

Question 16

Which psychological skill is a foundation skill?

A) communication
B) self-awareness
C) optimal attention
D) interpersonal skills

Question 17

Once the athlete has successfully used his/her new mental skill, he/she can usually end mental skills training until the next season.

Question 18

What is one weakness of using interviews, questionnaires, and behavioral observation to determine an athlete's psychological strengths and weaknesses?

A) athlete plays an aggressive role
B) athlete plays a passive role
C) athlete plays an active role
D) athlete plays no role

Question 19

The ideal time for initially implementing psychological skills training for an individual athlete is:

A) when consistency starts to occur in physical skills
B) when first beginning to participate in sport
C) when the athlete indicates receptivity to it
D) once cognitive skills are sufficiently developed to benefit from mental training

Question 20

The basic psychological skills training methods include:

A) imagery
B) all of these answers are accurate
C) thought control
D) arousal regulation
E) goal setting

Question 21

What is the ideal length of time for an athlete's first exposure to a formal mental skills training program?

A) 4 to 6 months
B) 2 to 6 months
C) 6 to 8 months
D) 3 to 6 months

Question 22

What two approaches do sport psychologists often use when working with athletes?

A) research and psychological
B) clinical and educational
C) educational and psychological
D) clinical and psychological

Question 23

To improve access to mental training, Weinberg, Neff, and Jurica (2012) suggested:

A) access would be improved by following each of these guidelines or suggestions
B) online sessions should follow best practices in mental training and provide useful tolls to enhance program success
C) online sessions should be taught by sport psychology experts
D) provide online mental training sessions that are affordable, automated, and internet-based

Question 24

When teaching mental skills to a group of athletes, the best approach is to be:

A) predetermined in approach
B) flexible
C) individualized
D) flexible and individualized

Question 25

What is the name of the model that attempts to combine performance enhancement goals with ones of personal balance and fulfillment in order to try and become truly holistic?

A) IZOF
B) Educational Model
C) Resonance Performance Model
D) Periodization of Mental Training

Question 26

Which of the following is not a problem a sport psychology consultant faces?

A) overcoming athletes reluctant to participate in mental skills training
B) knowing the sport too well
C) making sure athletes systematically practice their mental skills
D) lack of time spent with individual athlete in a team setting
E) gaining trust of the athletes

Question 27

When can athletes stop psychological skills training?

A) at the end of the season
B) when they have completed the training program
C) when the coach feels they no longer need it
D) athletes should not stop training mental skills

Question 28

Psychological skills training is appropriate for:

A) youth athletes but not younger than 12 years old
B) older, more mature athletes who are better able to understand it
C) athletes of all ages and skill levels
D) higher skilled athletes

Question 29

Good coaches and sport psychology consultants:

A) allow the athletes to make every decision
B) avoid observing athletes before the first session
C) emulate their successful mentors
D) teach and lead by example

Question 30

______ and ______ are key personal development skills that Vealey feels are an important part of psychological skills training.

A) Self-regulation, communication skills
B) Identity achievement, interpersonal competence
C) None of these
D) Team interactions, personal growth