What is the psychology of sports?

Many people are very mistaken, believing thatathletes - insensitive stump, which only can, that feet waving. Why do they need some kind of psychology? In fact, athletes need the help of a psychologist no less than representatives of other professions. Psychology in sports plays an important role in shaping the personality of the athlete as a whole, and also helps to cope with the experiences in case of unsuccessful performances. At us the trainer combines trainers' work with the work of a psychologist, helping his pupils more often.

The tasks of the psychology of sports

Initially, the psychology of sports did not stand out asa separate branch of psychological knowledge and it can be considered a fairly young industry. Initially, attention was paid to the differences of athletes, their individual characteristics. It also examined the ability of a person to train in stressful situations, to be able to adequately assess the situation and soberly think at times of extreme physical and mental stress. Naturally, the issues related to the intensification of training and increasing their effectiveness were touched upon.

Over time, the range of tasks thatwas to solve the psychology of sports, has expanded. So, the programs began to be actively created and tested, which took into account not only the differences of the athletes, but also the specificity of this or that sport. Along with individual work, the psychology of sports involves conducting collective trainings aimed at increasing the efficiency of the team of work. An important place was occupied by techniques and methods of raising not only physical and mental, but also ethical, collectivist and emotionally volitional training for athletes. Thus, the psychology of physical culture and sports was designed to shape the personality of the victorious fighter. Therefore, great importance was given to the motivation of the athlete, both during the competitions and during the training sessions. The future champion was taught to work for a specific result. In addition, the task that the psychology of sport had before itself was the formation of a sense of distance, feelings of speed of the object, sense of time, and so on. Also attention was paid to teaching people strategically and tactically to think, be able to predict events, listen to their intuition.

Functions of a sports psychologist

The coach often, if not always, performs not only coaching work, but also the work of a psychologist. Psychology in sports performs the following functions:

• the formation of motivation, focus on the result, improving the overall effectiveness of training;
• psychological preparation of an athlete for competitions;
• creation of the conditions necessary for the formation of psychological endurance and the ability to resist the influence of stressful situations;
• the formation of the personality of the athlete to improve the effectiveness of interaction with the team;
• Help the athlete in stressful situations for him;
• control of the level of willpower, when this indicator is either below or above the norm.

Well, psychology in sports is very important! This is no longer in doubt!