Sports Psychology & Mental Training for Swimmers Flashcards
7 cards from real ASCA 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 Training for Swimmers flashcards as text
According to Self-Determination Theory, which coaching approach best fosters intrinsic motivation in young swimmers?
Answer: Supporting athlete autonomy, competence development, and personal improvement
Self-Determination Theory shows that supporting autonomy, mastery, and belonging creates intrinsic motivation, leading to sustained engagement and psychological well-being.
Team cohesion in a swim program is best described as:
Answer: The tendency of a group to remain united in pursuit of shared goals
Cohesion is the dynamic process reflecting a group's tendency to stick together and remain united in pursuing instrumental objectives and member satisfaction.
Which strategy is most effective for preventing social loafing among relay team members?
Answer: Making individual contributions identifiable and personally meaningful
Social loafing (reduced individual effort in group settings) is minimized when each person's contribution is visible, evaluated, and understood to matter to the outcome.
The three-component burnout model developed by Maslach includes emotional/physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and:
Answer: Depersonalization or emotional detachment from sport
Maslach's burnout triad consists of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (detachment from the sport and people), and reduced sense of personal accomplishment.
A swimmer who has intense anxiety specifically about the starting block would benefit most from:
Answer: Systematic desensitization through gradual, structured exposure
Systematic desensitization pairs relaxation with progressively more anxiety-provoking exposures to the starting block, reducing the conditioned fear response over time.
A coach using a democratic leadership style primarily:
Answer: Shares decision-making with athletes and actively values their input
Democratic leadership involves collaborative decision-making, where the coach shares authority with athletes, improving satisfaction, ownership, and motivation.
When a swimmer experiences a major competition loss, the most psychologically effective coach response is to:
Answer: Acknowledge emotions, affirm effort, and identify constructive lessons learned
Effective post-setback coaching validates emotional experience, protects athlete self-worth, and channels attention toward growth — creating psychological safety and resilience.