The Effectiveness of Goal Setting in Sports Psychology - Research Paper Example

 Effectiveness of Goal Setting in Sports Psychology Abstract: In this paper, the efficacy and usefulness of Goal setting shall be explained, within Sports Psychological issues. Fore mostly, sports psychology will be explained in its own literal terms, followed by what issues prevail in this regard. Besides this, further evaluation and analysis will me made, to ascertain the root cause of that specific issue, where does it originate from, and what insinuations or suggestions can be given to overcome it to a better extent. Where Jim Tylor advises on how to apply sports psychology by putting forth, four basic perspectives along with some nitty-gritties of how the application can be made. Similarly, Jarvis and Monsama will describe the principles of effectiveness goal setting in sports psychology, in detail. Every activity, whether physical or emotional, has some sort of an impact on human mind or their behavior. The effect could be either a positive one, or it could be an adverse effect. Similarly, sports, which include athletic moves, exercise, work-outs and most of all out door activities, too have some impact on human mental and physical behavior. The impact could be affected health-wise too. It is basically the study of how athletic act, work-outs, sports or any other physical activity is manipulated by psychology. Professional athletes and instructors are given special lessons by sports psychologists to amplify their performance as well as boost up their motivation level (Cherry). The major of such type of psychology is to increase people’s lives and welfare, by employing sports and exercise, throughout an athlete’s entire life-span. Evidence says that one tends to release tension, anger or anxiety by indulging in sports activities, for instance, some people are passionate about dancing and they seem to achieve relief when they engross themselves in such an act. Correspondingly, athletes find sporty activities to be the best mode in liberating their built up tension/stress from the daily routine. It is often even advised to make room for exercise or any other sporty activity, at least once every day, even if it is done for 25 minute, as it is surely going to increase one’s energy level, alleviates stress level and prevent him/her from sitting futile, plus it is a fruity source of shedding pounds. Three important features highlight Sports Psychology (Cherry) Motivation: This comprises both intrinsic as well as extrinsic factors. Intrinsic motivators also known as self-motivation, comes from a person’s own aspiration and urge to achieve something big, by performing a certain proficient activity, with full fortitude and determination. Whereas, extrinsic factors/motivators are peripheral incentives, including prizes (cash prize), trophies, goblets, or societal acknowledgment. Imagery: When a certain task, particularly an athletic activity is visualized, it is termed as Imagery (in sports psychological sense), more like a spectator. It even includes participating in a sports activity or winning it. Attentional Concentration: This is another type of psychology, particularly for those who strive hard to achieve their goal successfully, in which an athlete or the one performing a certain activity, pays due attention towards the task at hand, and tend to ignore the nearby distractions, especially of that of a cheering crowd. Issues within Sports: How to over-come after identifying them: In today’s era, Anxiety Proneness lies almost in every individual, predominantly in ages ranging from 16 years and above. One tends to overwhelm worldly affairs and such activities over their minds up to such an extent, that it turns in to anxiety, stress and depression. Overcoming such concerns is a subject of matter, not just identifying them. However, many great psychologists and scholars have come up with plausible reasons, as to how these issues can be resolved. Anxiety comes from several real. Being lazy with nothing to do all day long is another cause of futile stress/depression, which is why one should keep him/herself as well as their brain alive and active all the time. They should engage in activities which excavates any irrational thoughts. The issue that we will be focusing upon is the lack of confidence in communicating with team-mates, which results in un-called for stress and tension. Not all humans are same; each and every person has different traits, personalities and characteristics. When it comes to sports, likewise any other activity in different set-ups (school, work-place, institution), certain issues lie with players too, where many are bold confident with no fear of losing, others are nervous, introverts with lacking confidence in communicating with their mates/leaders/coaches. Such players tend to get distracted very easily and find it hard to focus. They are not comfortable with the tasks at hand. They are often hooted out and laughed at for being so clumsy or diffident. Therapy for dealing with such problems can be provided to them by either the coach of the team, or a sports psychologist. Sometimes, even the coach is unable to provide better assistance or aid to the needy player, and they end up being replaced by new comers, which de-motivates them even more then they previously were. Dealing with people who are lacking ability to communicate effectively, who are insecure or aggressive, is one of the arts of psychological therapy. If not dealt with in time, they are sure to face more difficulty ahead. A sport, be it any, is a healthy activity to be indulged in, which releases unnecessary tension from building up. But every commotion has its pitfalls. Every player is born with a different temperament; however, the goal to achieve is the same. In order to achieve that particular aspiration, competition gets stronger. With competition come differences and even complexities. Players get caught up in fights if their satisfaction level is being deteriorated or hurdled. Similarly, some are too powerless to fight back to gain their output. They are suppressed by being beaten up or are snubbed. Goal Setting Theory: Sports psychologists should clearly define the principles of goal setting (Monsama). If the goals and objectives remain vague and obscure, a player would have trouble as to what strategies to apply within a certain constraint. Strategies should be implemented to ensure if proper measures are being undertaken and what goals to achieve and how to accomplish them. When Goal-setting standards are made, players take that as criteria to pull off a certain target, because psychologically, teams perform better when goals are set, as compared to teams who are told to do their best. (Johnson at al, 1997) No objective can be attained efficiently if proper goals are not set, because it would seem vague; team players would not have a clear idea as to what is to be accomplished, and how to accomplish it. Difficult tasks are more prone to conflict arousal then simpler tasks, because the former is given more attention to be accomplished, as compared to the latter (Baron, 1986) Suggestions: Clinical Psychological programs should be initiated, to welcome players who have been performing inefficiently. Coaches or instructors do not have enough time to counsel their subordinates; they only have enough temperament to teach their players what is right and how it can be done. They toughen up players, to make them strong enough to survive the fellowship of sports. Players who suffer from issues as discussed earlier should consult sports psychologists, who are meant to advise them, on the basis of their psychological studies and knowledge. (Leffingwell, 2001) Conflicts arise between team members and many are not able to convey their point, in other words, they feel helpless in dealing with such problems. A trained sports psychologist should prepare such an environment, where all team members should be present. He should review the course of problem, and listening to everyone carefully, on a collective basis (Tuckman, 1965). Then he should listen to every member individually, as there are certain things which cannot be spoken bluntly, so to avoid any further clashes, the psychologist would listen to every one on an individual basis, which would lead to solutions and recommendations given by the psychologist. These solutions are very effective and keep that player from getting caught up in activities which could alleviate their motivational levels or may put them off. Similarly, psychological training/therapy session could be held for the instructor/coaches too, so as to counsel them on how they should deal with team players and what strategies he should set, in order to help team members in following those strategies and achieve a goal successfully. References: Taylor, J. (2005). Effectiveness of goal setting in sports psychology In Applying Sport Psychology. Cherry, K. (n.d.). Effectiveness of goal setting in sports psychology. In what is sport's Psychology? Monsama, E. V. (n.d.). Association for applied sport psychology (aasp). In E. V. Monsama (Ed.), Principles of Effective Goal Setting. University of South Carolina: Retrieved from https://www.appliedsportpsych.org/Resource-Center/Athletes/Articles/goalsetting Leffingwell. (2001). Sport psychology training within a clinical psychology program and a department of intercollegiate athletics. . Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/pro/32/5/531/ Effectiveness of goal setting in sports psychology. In Sport psychologists help professional and amateur athletes. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/sport-psychologists.aspx Social Psychology of Sport. Retrieved from http://www.jeffstanden.net/sport.htm Read More