Sport confidence

Abstract

This chapter explores how sport psychologists can help athletes enhance their performance via the use of psychological skills training (PST), and primarily focuses on the skills of self-talk, imagery, relaxation and goal setting. Psychological skills have pervasive effects, but this chapter attempts to delimit itself to focusing on research that looked at their influence on performance. The youth sport consulting model (YSCM) has been proposed as an educational framework for guiding and supporting practitioners who are providing sport psychology services to young athletes. It outlines a key considerations regarding athletic development across physical, cognitive, emotional and social characteristics. The holistic sport psychology model provides a framework for practitioners to expand their intervention services, from focusing solely on athletic performance to enhancing the quality of life for the athlete. The chapter facilitates an enhanced understanding of applied sport psychology, with specific reference to psychological skills, effectiveness, their delivery and how they are researched.