SCS Mental Performance & Sports Psychology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which relaxation technique involves systematically tensing and releasing muscle groups to reduce physical and psychological tension?
- Autogenic training
- Progressive muscle relaxation (Correct answer)
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Mindfulness meditation
Correct answer: Progressive muscle relaxation
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR), developed by Jacobson, involves deliberately tensing then releasing muscle groups to lower overall physiological and psychological tension.
Question 2: Pre-competition anxiety that enhances performance is best described as:
- Debilitative anxiety
- Cognitive overload
- Facilitative anxiety (Correct answer)
- State anxiety disorder
Correct answer: Facilitative anxiety
Facilitative anxiety is interpreted positively by the athlete, increasing alertness and motivation that enhances rather than impairs competitive performance.
Question 3: What is 'attentional focus' as it relates to sports psychology?
- The ability to memorize game strategies
- The direction and width of an athlete's concentration during performance (Correct answer)
- Motivational intensity during training
- The athlete's perception of their physical fitness
Correct answer: The direction and width of an athlete's concentration during performance
Attentional focus describes where an athlete directs their attention (internal vs. external) and how broad or narrow that focus is during sport performance.
Question 4: Which intervention best helps an athlete who exhibits negative self-talk that undermines performance?
- Increased training volume
- Thought stopping and cognitive restructuring (Correct answer)
- Extended rest periods
- Lowering competitive goals
Correct answer: Thought stopping and cognitive restructuring
Thought stopping interrupts negative self-talk while cognitive restructuring replaces irrational thoughts with constructive, performance-enhancing ones.
Question 5: In sport psychology, 'burnout' in athletes is primarily characterized by:
- Acute muscle soreness after training
- Emotional and physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation (Correct answer)
- Excessive arousal during competition
- Overconfidence leading to poor performance
Correct answer: Emotional and physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation
Athletic burnout is a syndrome of emotional/physical exhaustion, reduced personal accomplishment, and sport devaluation resulting from chronic stress.
Question 6: A coach wants to build team cohesion. Which of the following strategies is MOST effective?
- Reducing individual player recognition
- Assigning rotating roles with no consistency
- Establishing clear roles, shared goals, and team-building activities (Correct answer)
- Eliminating all performance feedback
Correct answer: Establishing clear roles, shared goals, and team-building activities
Team cohesion is strengthened by establishing clear roles, fostering shared goals, and using structured team-building activities that promote trust and communication.
Question 7: What is 'psychological momentum' in sport?
- An athlete's resting heart rate trend over a training cycle
- A positive or negative shift in energy and confidence that affects performance sequence (Correct answer)
- The rate at which mental fatigue accumulates during competition
- An athlete's ability to sustain motivation across a season
Correct answer: A positive or negative shift in energy and confidence that affects performance sequence
Psychological momentum is a dynamic shift in positive or negative perceptions and energy levels that influences subsequent performance within competition.
SCS Mental Performance & Sports Psychology 2
Which relaxation technique involves systematically tensing and releasing muscle groups to reduce physical and psychological tension?