CCSP Sports Psychology & Mental Performance Questions and Answers Flashcards

Which technique involves systematically tensing and then releasing muscle groups to reduce somatic anxiety and physiological arousal before competition?

Answer: Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR)

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), developed by Jacobson, reduces somatic tension by systematically contracting and releasing muscle groups throughout the body.

According to the AASP (Association for Applied Sport Psychology) ethical guidelines, which action is required when a CCSP suspects an athlete is experiencing suicidal ideation?

Answer: Immediate referral to a licensed mental health professional and follow safety protocols

Duty-to-warn and duty-to-protect obligations require immediate referral and safety intervention when suicidal ideation is suspected, superseding general confidentiality.

Which attentional style, described in Nideffer's model, is best suited for an athlete who must rapidly read a complex game environment and make strategic decisions?

Answer: Broad-external focus

A broad-external attentional focus allows the athlete to scan the environment widely, which is essential for reading play and making rapid strategic decisions.

An athlete recovering from ACL reconstruction is cleared medically at 9 months but refuses to return to play due to persistent fear of re-injury. The CCSP should coordinate with which professional to address this barrier?

Answer: Licensed sport psychologist or mental health professional

Persistent fear of re-injury post-ACL reconstruction is a psychological barrier best addressed collaboratively with a licensed sport psychologist or mental health professional.

Which theory of motivation proposes that athletes are driven by the need for competence, autonomy, and relatedness, and is commonly used to design motivationally supportive sports environments?

Answer: Self-Determination Theory (SDT)

Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination Theory identifies competence, autonomy, and relatedness as the three basic psychological needs underlying intrinsic motivation.

Pre-competition routines are psychological strategies used by athletes to optimize readiness. Their primary benefit is best described as:

Answer: Providing structure that reduces uncertainty and anchors optimal arousal and focus

Pre-competition routines reduce cognitive uncertainty, provide a familiar anchor, and help athletes reliably access their optimal arousal and attentional state.