Approaches Workbook Self Talk – Teachers Answers

1) Why is it important to make a conscious effort to control your self-talk? Self talk has a big impact on your mental state and how you feel emotionally. Making a conscious effort to control self talk can: Increase confidence and positivity Increase motivation and determination Reduce feeling of anxiety, anger, fear and worry in particular situations Act as triggers to remind you how to act in particular situations Improve decision making Energize

2) When using an approach to develop performance it is important that the approach is specific to the performer. How is this achieved when using self-talk and why is it important? The athlete will choose their own cue words of key phrases. This is important as the athlete must remember the phrase(s) but equally important the phrase(s) chosen must invoke the desired reaction from the athlete. This is only likely to happen if the phrase(s) is personal to the performer and therefore means something to them in a way that other phrases might not.

3) What do you think might be reasons for self-talk not being effective when used by an athlete? To control your self talk effectively requires a lot of practice. Athletes might not see this approach as being as important as other forms of training such as skills, fitness or tactics training. As a result they may not practice it enough for it to be effective. Athletes might not actually believe their own self talk. athlete might try to use positive phrases but at the same time be doubting their belief in what they are telling themselves. This will result in the athlete not fully committing to their self talk and as a result not have the desired affect on their emotions or mental state.

4) Why do you think it is important that cue words/phrases are short and simple? It is important that cues words are kept short and simple so that they are easily remembered whilst in the heat of competition. The words/phrases being short and simple will ensure that the athlete can achieve the desired effect quickly without too much effort or thought being given to the approach

5) How important do you think self-talk is in how good an athlete is and how successful they are? Why? Self talk will not improve an athletes performance on it’s own. If you are physically unable to perform core skills and movement patterns in the game, positive self talk will be ineffective. However effective use of self talk will allow an athlete to perform to their potential if used well. This could be through; reducing levels of anxiety and stress, maintaining focus, remaining calm and relaxed, removing feeling of self doubt

6) Self-talk is an approach to develop performance that any athlete can attempt to use. Why? This is a simple and easy approach to use where athlete only have to be able to develop their own cue words/phrases and then practice using them both during training and in competition. There are no particular skills that are required to use this approach and for it to be effective. This approach will have no or little impact on the time an athlete devotes to other aspects of training.

7) What might be a disadvantage of relying on cue words/phrases during a performance? What can be done to overcome this? In the heat of the moment the athlete might not be focused on using their key words/phrases. This could result in them not being used at the correct times in order to avoid negative emotions or mental states. Having the cue words/phrases written in a place that will be visible to the athlete will help to ensure that the cue words/phrases are remembered and that they are at the forefront of the the performers mind.

8) Why is it important to write cue words/phrases down and practice using them to achieve the desired result often on training and performances? The more often positive self talk is used the more likely it is that an athlete will change their belief systems so that they actually match the self talk they are using. By telling themselves something over and over again an athlete is more likely to actually start believing it. Writing the cue words/phrases down allows the athlete to regular read over their phrases again and again. By writing them down the athlete is more likely to commit to the process and is able to ensure that theie word/phrases remain fresh in their mind.