Why Can Sports Psychology Be Useful For People Who Do Not Play Sports?

Physical exercise requires both physical and mental strength. In children it improves their development. In adults, it helps maintain a better general state of the body and brain. However, on many occasions we do not find the motivation to get going. That’s where sports psychology comes in.

You don’t have to be an Olympic medalist, like Michael Phelps, to be clear that “you can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the further you go ”. Whether it is to feel better about yourself, out of mere hobby or out of sheer necessity, sport is basic in our lives from the moment we are born until we leave this world.

Why put sports psychology into practice?

Intrinsic motivation

According to the authors Sánchez-Oliva, Leo Marcos, Sánchez Miguel, Amado Alonso and Calvo, in “Relationship of the motivational climate by the coach with self-determined motivation and involvement towards sports practice” (2010, University of Extremadura), we can refer to intrinsic motivation as the involvement of the individual’s own initiative in an activity. That is, it does so for the full satisfaction of participating in the activity.

Also in this sense, Sans and Frattarola in “Training in grassroots football” (2000, Paidotribo) consider that intrinsic or internal motivation is useful for the individual to develop the capacity for achievement. By being born of it, it satisfies its need in the pursuit of a goal.

Obviously, knowing when and how to promote this type of motivation focused on one or more people requires some knowledge. What moves the group? What interests do they have? So we can tailor the tasks to your specific needs.

Extrinsic motivation

We now return to the theses of Sánchez-Oliva, Leo Marcos, Sánchez Miguel, Amado Alonso and Calvo, in “Relationship of the motivational climate by the coach with self-determined motivation and involvement towards sports practice” (2010, University of Extremadura) to describe extrinsic motivation.

In this case, we refer to the motivation that is always produced by a benefit contributed to personal growth. However, the interest in carrying out the activity starts and is maintained by obtaining external rewards, such as avoiding a feeling of guilt.

In this way, some people can influence others to practice sports. Both between players and participants and on the part of a coach, performance, attitudes and motivation can be varied, having special importance in the improvement of sports skills. This is how Cruz Feliu estimates it (1994, “Psychological counseling for coaches: experience in initiation basketball”, Apunts 35 Magazine).

In this way, we consider this motivation as external, since it comes from the outside and is provided by agents outside the person, but who belong to their environment. As we say, colleagues, family, friends, coaches, etc.

10 reasons to practice sports psychology

The psychologist and personal trainer Jonathan García-Allen considers these 10 reasons to put sports psychology into practice as basic. We know them and discover the benefits obtained in each of them.

Get an ideal state of mind

Practicing sports psychology allows the individual to reach their ideal mental state. Beyond the good physical condition that is required, mental preparation is also key, especially at a competitive level. It is what is known in this field as the Optimal Level of Operation.

Reinforcement

It is also considered basic to use reinforcement. In this way , the self-esteem of the participants is improved. In addition, it is considered a basic principle of learning techniques, tactics and psychological skills.

objectives

Using psychological techniques adapted to sport are ideal to achieve goals. With proper planning and realistic goals, it is much easier to follow the steps to achieve them. In addition, self-confidence is increased and self-esteem is reinforced.

Group cohesion

This advantage is obtained in teams or group sports. It can favor working together, since if they are united, the benefit is much greater. It serves to improve and optimize sports performance, reducing internal problems.

Self-instructions

Increasing motivation and skills is possible through self-instruction. According to García-Allen, in this way negative habits are eliminated. They are also ideal for enhancing attention, focusing on the objective and increasing performance, better supporting the fatigue typical of sports practice.

Imaginative training

Another positive reason for implementing sports psychology appears when establishing imaginative training. In this case , anxiety is reduced and new skills are acquired due to mental practice.

Stress management

We continue to see positive aspects of sports-adapted psychology. And it is a great stress manager. Despite the fact that the same competition involves stressful situations, in general the lifestyle associated with physical exercise is much healthier. It makes it possible to reconcile routine obligations with higher performance, reduction of pressure and a better reaction to complex scenarios, obtaining objectives and exceeding goals in all vital aspects.

Improved attention

Sports psychology is a great attention enhancer. Techniques are used to improve performance. This requires emotional control, enhanced concentration, and optimal skill learning. Only in this way can the most complex moments in sports practice be overcome.

More productive emotions

Also sport is a facilitator of productive emotions. It is because the mental state of the individual really determines the competitive performance of the same. That is why it is important to generate productive emotions capable of provoking the optimal state of a person. Thus, it is necessary to avoid anger, disappointment or fear and allow positivity to enter the individual’s mind during the physical event.

Recovery support

Sports psychology is optimal as a support for the recovery of sportsmen’s injuries. Accepting the damage and not losing your cool during bad times and convalescence is very important. This is where professionals must do excellent motivational work, so that rehabilitation is adequate, both on a psychological and physical level.

The work of sports psychology

We observe that sports psychology has a hard work. However, their contribution is essential in optimal performance, both professionally and amateur. Adequate physical preparation is necessary to achieve the proposed goals.

Therefore, the physical capacity of an athlete is very important, but if it is not linked to emotional, technical, tactical, strategic and psychological training, there is still a long way to go.

Mental ability focused in the right direction is a very important part of achieving goals in any sport. Hence, sports psychology has a great job in the various mental areas.

It can be concluded that thanks to sports psychology, the individual will be much more efficient, competent and effective. During practice, you will make better decisions, have great control of your emotions, and overcome any critical moment with great efficiency.