Sports Psychology & Mental Performance Flashcards

Which mental skill involves an athlete creating vivid, detailed mental rehearsals of their performance before competing?

Answer: Visualization

Visualization (imagery) is the practice of mentally rehearsing performance in detail to build confidence and motor readiness.

An athlete who sets specific, measurable, and time-bound objectives is applying which goal-setting principle?

Answer: SMART goals

SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound — a structured framework for effective goal setting.

What term describes the optimal level of mental activation that leads to peak athletic performance?

Answer: Flow state

Flow state (also called 'zone') is the psychological state of optimal arousal where performance feels effortless and automatic.

Which type of self-talk is most effective for building an athlete's confidence before competition?

Answer: Positive motivational

Positive motivational self-talk reinforces confidence, energizes the athlete, and promotes a productive mental state before competing.

The Inverted-U Theory of arousal predicts that performance peaks at which level of arousal?

Answer: Moderate

The Inverted-U Theory holds that performance improves as arousal rises to a moderate level, then declines if arousal becomes too high.

An AAU coach notices an athlete experiencing excessive worry about their performance before a meet. This is most closely classified as:

Answer: Cognitive anxiety

Cognitive anxiety refers to the mental component of anxiety — excessive worry, negative thoughts, and fear of failure before competition.

Which psychological concept describes an athlete's belief in their own ability to successfully perform a specific task?

Answer: Self-efficacy

Self-efficacy, as defined by Bandura, is the athlete's confidence in their capacity to execute a specific behavior or skill successfully.