Activity 11.

1: Assessing Your Sport Psychological Skills

Instructions: The following are statements that athletes have used to describe their experiences. Please read each statement carefully, and then recall as accurately as possible how often you experience the same thing. There are no right or wrong answers. Do not spend too much time on any one statement. Please circle how often you have these experiences when playing sports. 0 #n a daily or wee$ly basis, I set very specific goals for myself that guide what I do. ! " ) * + , . / 0 I get the most out of my talent and s$ill. %lmost never &ometimes %lmost never &ometimes ! #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften " %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always

'hen a coach or manager tells me how to correct a mista$e I(ve made, I tend to ta$e it personally and feel upset. %lmost never &ometimes 'hen I(m playing sports, I can focus my attention and bloc$ out distractions. %lmost never &ometimes I remain positive and enthusiastic during competition, no matter how badly things are going. %lmost never &ometimes I tend to play better under pressure because I thin$ more clearly. %lmost never &ometimes I worry -uite a bit about what others thin$ of my performance. %lmost never &ometimes I tend to do lots of planning about how to reach my goals. %lmost never &ometimes I feel confident that I will play well. 'hen a coach or manager critici0es me, I become upset rather than feel helped. It is easy for me to $eep distracting thoughts from interfering with something I am watching or listening to. I put a lot of pressure on myself by worrying about how I will perform. I set my own performance goals for each practice. I don(t have to be pushed to practice or play hard1 I give 002. If a coach critici0es or yells at me, I correct the mista$e without getting upset about it. I handle unexpected situations in my sport very well. %lmost never &ometimes %lmost never &ometimes %lmost never &ometimes %lmost never &ometimes %lmost never &ometimes %lmost never &ometimes %lmost never &ometimes %lmost never &ometimes

! " ) * +

, . / !0 ! !! !" !) !* !+ !, !.

'hen things are going badly, I tell myself to $eep calm, and this wor$s for me. %lmost never &ometimes The more pressure there is during a game, the more I en3oy it. %lmost never &ometimes 'hile competing, I worry about ma$ing mista$es or failing to come through. %lmost never &ometimes I have my own game plan wor$ed out in my head long before the game begins. %lmost never &ometimes 'hen I feel myself getting too tense, I can -uic$ly relax my body and calm myself. %lmost never &ometimes To me, pressure situations are challenges that I welcome. %lmost never &ometimes I thin$ about and imagine what will happen if I fail or screw up. %lmost never &ometimes I maintain emotional control regardless of how things are going for me. %lmost never &ometimes It is easy for me to direct my attention and focus on a single ob3ect or person. %lmost never &ometimes 'hen I fail to reach my goals, it ma$es me try even harder. %lmost never &ometimes I improve my s$ills by listening carefully to advice and instruction from coaches and managers. %lmost never &ometimes I ma$e fewer mista$es when the pressure is on because I concentrate better. %lmost never &ometimes

#ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften #ften

%lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always %lmost always

Scoring
This is the %thletic 4oping &$ills Inventory 5%4&I6, a measure of an athlete(s psychological s$ills, developed by &mith et al. 5 //)6. Determine your score on the following subscales by adding the scores on the -uestion numbers identified. %lso, note the following numerical scales associated with your ratings. 0 7 almost never 7 sometimes ! 7 often " 7 almost always Finally, note that an * after a question number signifies a reverse-scored item (that is, 0 = almost always, 3 = almost never, and so on) 888888Coping With Adversity: This subscale assesses if an athlete remains positive and enthusiastic even when things are going badly, remains calm and controlled, and can -uic$ly bounce bac$ from mista$es and setbac$s. 5&um scores on -uestions *, ,, ! , and !), and place the total in the blan$ provided.6 888888Coachability: %ssesses if an athlete is open to and learns from instruction, and accepts constructive criticism without ta$ing it personally and becoming upset. 5&um scores on -uestions "9, 09, *, and !,, and place the total in the blan$ provided.6 888888Concentration: This subscale reflects whether an athlete becomes easily distracted, and is able to focus on the tas$ at hand in both practice and game situations, even when adverse or unexpected situations occur. 5&um scores on -uestions ), , +, and !*, and place the total in the blan$ provided.6 888888Confidence and Achievement Motivation: :easures if an athlete is confident and positively motivated, consistently gives 002 during practices and games, and wor$s hard to improve his or her s$ills. 5&um scores on -uestions !, /, ), and !+, and place the total in the blan$ provided.6 888888Goal Setting and Mental Preparation: %ssesses whether an athlete sets and wor$s toward specific performance goals, plans and mentally prepares for games, and clearly has a game plan for performing well. 5&um scores on -uestions , ., ", and !0, and place the total in the blan$ provided.6 888888Peaking Under Pressure: :easures if an athlete is challenged rather than threatened by pressure situations and performs well under pressure. 5&um scores on -uestions +, ., !!, and !., and place the total in the blan$ provided.6 888888 reedom rom Worry: %ssesses whether an athlete puts pressure on him; or herself by worrying about performing poorly or ma$ing mista$es1 worries about what others will thin$ if he or she performs poorly. 5&um scores on -uestions ,9, !9, /9, and !"9, and place the total in the blan$ provided.6

!!!!! "otal score or sum of subscales

&cores range from a low of 0 to a high of ! on each subscale, with higher scores indicating

greater strengths on that subscale. The score for the total scale ranges from a low of 0 to a high of .), with higher scores signifying greater strength.