Sports Psychology & Mental Performance Flashcards
7 cards from real AAU practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Sports Psychology & Mental Performance flashcards as text
Which breathing technique is commonly taught to athletes to reduce pre-competition somatic anxiety?
Answer: Diaphragmatic breathing
Diaphragmatic (deep belly) breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing physical symptoms of anxiety such as elevated heart rate.
An athlete who attributes a loss to 'bad luck' rather than effort is demonstrating which psychological concept?
Answer: External locus of control
Attributing outcomes to external, uncontrollable factors like luck reflects an external locus of control, reducing the athlete's sense of personal agency.
In sport psychology, 'choking' under pressure is most often associated with which phenomenon?
Answer: Over-arousal and increased self-consciousness
Choking occurs when excessive pressure causes over-arousal and heightened self-monitoring, disrupting automatic, well-learned performance.
Which goal type focuses on an athlete's personal improvement and skill mastery rather than defeating others?
Answer: Process goals
Process goals target specific actions and skills an athlete controls, promoting mastery and reducing anxiety compared to outcome-focused goals.
A young AAU sprinter is experiencing burnout. Which factor is LEAST likely to contribute to athletic burnout?
Answer: High autonomy in training decisions
High autonomy — where athletes have meaningful input in their training — is protective against burnout, not a contributing factor.
Which motivational orientation is associated with participation in sport for the enjoyment and mastery of the activity itself?
Answer: Intrinsic motivation
Intrinsic motivation drives participation based on inherent enjoyment and personal satisfaction rather than external rewards.
A coach uses a post-game meeting to focus on controllable performance factors rather than the final score. This approach best supports:
Answer: Mastery climate
A mastery (task) climate emphasizes personal improvement and effort over winning, fostering long-term motivation and resilience.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. We have not yet matched this exam's facts to an official source, so confirm fees, dates and rules with the exam body. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy