Therefore, Non-athletes Should Worry About Sports Psychology

Physical exercise requires both physical and mental effort. It helps children grow up healthy and adults get in shape, both in body and mind. But it’s hard to find motivation, which is why sports psychology comes into play.

You do not have to be an Olympic medalist, like Michael Phelps, to understand that “you can not set a limit to anything. The more you dream, the further you get. ”

Whether you are doing it to get better with yourself because you enjoy it or because you need it, exercise is important in your life.

“If you’re going to jump, jump.”

-Fablehaven, Vol 3-

Why learn about sports psychology?

While it makes the most sense in professional sports to learn about sports psychology, these tools can also be used in different areas of life. You will soon understand how valuable they can be even if you do not play sports.

But first it is important to distinguish between own and external motivation. Then we will be able to apply the concepts more efficiently.

Inner motivation

Internal motivation, according to Sánchez-Oliva et al (2010, University of Extremadura) can be  defined as the involvement of the individual’s own initiative in an activity. In other words, you do it just to be content with participating in the activity.

Similarly, in “Training Children in Soccer” (2000, Paidotribo), Sans and Frattarola suggest that internal motivation is helpful in improving performance. When motivation comes from within, it fulfills the need to pursue a goal.

Logically, one needs specific knowledge to know when and how to encourage initial motivation in humans. What moves them? What are their interests? That way, you can tailor the tasks to their specific needs.

External motivation

Let us now return to Sánchez-Oliva et al (2010) to describe external motivation.

This kind of motivation arises when the person seeks a kind of benefit that will contribute to personal growth. The reason for performing the action, however, is to obtain an external reward, such as. to avoid guilt.

For example  , some people play sports because they are influenced by other people. Performance, attitudes and motivation vary greatly between players and coaches.

All of these factors have a dramatic effect on the improvement of athletic skills. That’s what Cruz Feliu explains in Psychological Advice to Coaches: Experience in Children’s Basketball  (1994).

This kind of motivation comes from outside and is imposed by other people. It can be friends, family members, teammates, coaches, etc.

10 reasons to use sports psychology in your daily life

Psychologist and personal trainer, Jonathan García-Allen, has 10 reasons why you should use sports psychology in your daily life. See what they are and discover their benefits below.

Ideal mental state

Sports psychology allows you to achieve an ideal mental state. In addition to being in shape, you also need mental preparation to physically challenge yourself, especially when competing. This is known in psychology as the optimal level of functioning.

Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement improves self-esteem. It is also a fundamental principle in learning psychological techniques and abilities.

Goal

You can use sports psychology to achieve your goals. With proper planning and realistic goals, it is much easier to take the steps you need to get there . This also gives you confidence and self-esteem.

Group context

Group context is an advantage in team or group sports because it makes the people work better together. If the team is united, it will get better . It improves athletic performance and reduces internal problems.

Self-instruction

Self-education can increase motivation and improve skills. According to García-Allen, it can help you get rid of bad habits. It is also ideal for improving your attention with focus on your goal, improving performance and dealing with exhausting exercises.

Visualization

Another great reason to implement sports psychology in your life is visualization. Exercise in your mind helps with any anxiety and can actually make you better.

Stress management

Playing sports is a great way to deal with stress. While the actual competition involves stressful situations, an active lifestyle is generally much healthier.

It helps you get your work done more efficiently and it is stress relieving. It helps you respond better to complex situations and achieve your goals in all areas of life.

Improves attention

Sports psychology is a great way to improve your attention and performance. All you need is proper emotional regulation, strong concentration and optimal learning. Only then will you be able to overcome the hardest parts of playing sports.

More productive emotions

Physical activity also promotes more productive emotions. This is because your mental state is crucial to how you conduct competitions.

Therefore, it is important to create productive emotions that will help you do your best. For this, stay away from anger, disappointment and fear. Instead, let positivity enter your mind during physical activity.

Restitution support

Sports psychology can support athletes when they are in recovery from an injury. It is very important for athletes to accept the injury and the fact that they are bedridden. Professionals do a lot of motivating work in this regard. The result is better recovery, both physically and psychologically.

“I am a very positive thinker, and I think that is what helps me the most in difficult moments.”

–Roger Federer–

The work of sports psychology

Note that incorporating sports psychology into your daily life requires a lot of work. But it is useful if you want to do your best, whether you are a pro or a weekend warrior. That said, good physical training is also necessary to meet your athletic goals.

While physical ability is very important, it can not take you very far if it is not accompanied by emotional, technical, strategic and psychological training.

Mental agility focused in the right direction is also a very important part of athletic pursuits, which is why sports psychology is so useful.

“If you do not have confidence, you will always find a way not to win.”

-Carl Lewis-