1. Chantea Goetz M.S. Sports Psychology Capella University PSY8841
Veins as Cold as Ice
Chantea Goetz
M.S. Sports Psychology
Capella University
PSY8841

2. Objectives Define Sports Psychology Who is the target audience?
What is biofeedback?
How can biofeedback help baseball players?
How does it benefit sports?
Advances in technology of biofeedback
Ethical Considerations

3. Table of Contents What is Sports Psychology?
Why see a Sports Psychologist?
Biofeedback in Sports
Theory behind Biofeedback
Optimal Performance
Benefits of Biofeedback

4. Table of Contents Case Studies in Baseball
Advancing Performance through Technology
Ethical Considerations
Conclusion
References

5. Sports Psychology
Applied sport psychologists/consultants teach the athletes various mental techniques so that they will optimize the mental and emotional aspects that are vital components of top performance (Blumenstein & Weinstein, 2011).

6. Why See a Sports Psychologist?
Performance Anxiety
Depression
Lack of focus
Stress
Injury
Poor Grades
According to Paul & Garg (2012), dealing with anxiety is especially important for an athlete, as an anxious athlete has trouble concentrating, focusing and in decision making (Paul & Garg, 2012).

7. Paving the Way

8. What is Biofeedback?
Biofeedback is a process that enables an individual to learn how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance (AAPB, 2011).
Utilizing the proper techniques can help to alleviate issues such as performance anxiety, depression, headaches, and symptoms related to injuries such as traumatic brain injury or concussions, as well as improve attention and focus.

9. Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback
Allows for an athlete to gain control over heart rate
Enables a player to zero in on the task at hand
Blocks out distractions
Improves overall performance

10. Theories
Operant conditioning is “a learning process in which the likelihood of a specific behavior is increased or decreased through positive or negative reinforcement each time the behavior is exhibited, so that the subject comes to associate the pleasure or displeasure of the reinforcement with the behavior (Operant Conditioning, ND).
In essence brain waves are being reformatted and trained to function in a new way in order to change a behavior.

11. Theories

12. Purpose of Biofeedback
The ultimate goal of biofeedback is to implement the strategies learned during training into relevant performance situations without the assistance of the technologically generated feedback (Perry, Shaw & Zaichkowsky, 2011).

13. Optimal Performance

14. Biofeedback in Action

15. Uses in Sports
According to Hammond (2007), biofeedback can also be used to improve concentration and focus, to improve cognitive function and emotional control following concussions and mild head injuries, and it has untapped potential to increase physical balance in gymnastics, ice skating, skiing, and other areas of performance (Hammond, 2007).

16. Benefits of Biofeedback
Athletes of all ages and genders can benefit from the use of biofeedback.
Biofeedback is proven to be effective in the areas of performance anxiety, stress, injury, optimal performance, and focus.
Athletes can use these skills on and off the field.
Instead of flinching at a curveball, they can focus in and drive it.
Instead of freezing when the game is on the line, they treat it just like batting practice.

17. Developing a Performance Brain Training TM Approach for Baseball: A Process Analysis with Descriptive Data
This study presented data of five development players from a major league baseball team. The aims were to evaluate the feasibility of conducting sessions within a professional organization, assess changes in quantitative electroencephalograph (QEEG), NeuroPerformance Profile TM, and report qualitative self-report data before and after brain training.
The QEEG data, CPT data and NeuroPerformance Profile TM data were all compared between the pre and post 15 sessions of brain training using a within subject paired t test design corrected for multiple comparisons using false discovery rate method (Sherlin, L. H., Larson, & Sherlin, R. M., 2013). The QEEG findings of all participants illustrated significant changes within the training parameters. Thus the positive findings in both objective and subjective measures suggest further inquiry into the utility of brain training for performance enhancement with the specific application of sport is warranted.

18. Toward a psychophysiology of performance: Sport psychology principles dealing with anxiety.
A unique and innovative internal imagery/video/electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback protocol was used to train visual attention and increase self-confidence of a collegiate baseball player struggling to recover from a serious eye injury (Davis & Simi, 2005).
Results from the next competitive season revealed that self-confidence increased and hitting and fielding performance improved dramatically after receiving biofeedback therapy.
Although EEG biofeedback has been slow to gain acceptance among applied practitioners, used in conjunction with video and internal imagery, it appears to have potential as a tool for training visual attention in athletes within a variety of externally paced sports, such as baseball, softball, and racquet sports (Davis & Simi, 2005).

19. Technology in Sports Training
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Neurofeedback/Biofeedback
Virtual Reality (VR) training
Eye-tracking glasses
According to Zaichkowsky (2006) ,we need experts in technology, sport, basic science, and statistical methods that will enable us to get answers to important practical questions (Zaichkowsky, 2006).
The use of technology can pave the way to a better understanding of how the mind/body connection of an athlete experiences stress, anxiety, competition, trauma or serious injury, and how to improve athletic performance.

20. Ethical Considerations
APA standard 4.01 Maintaining Confidentiality- “psychologists have a primary obligation and take reasonable precautions to protect confidential information obtained through or stored in any medium, recognizing that the extent and limits of confidentiality may be regulated by law or established by institutional rules or professional or scientific relationship (APA, 2010).

21. Ethical Considerations
All information discussed is to remain privileged as set by APA standards.
Players and coaches will be informed of this policy prior to beginning services.
Since the players are minors, proper authorization will be required before the start of treatment.

22. Unlimited Potential

23. Conclusion
Biofeedback provides and opportunity for athletes to improve athletic performance, reduce anxiety, and increase focus and attention.
Biofeedback aids in the recovery process of serious injuries.
Evidence suggests the use of biofeedback as a therapeutic modality is very beneficial for athletes on and off the field.

24. Conclusion
Coaches should look into finding qualified practitioners to assist their athletes.
Baseball is a game of mental sharpness combined with physical ability.
A sports psychologist is a wonderful tool to sharpen the mind/body connection.
A clear mind leads to unlimited potential on and off the field.

25. References:
American Psychological Association. (2010). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Retrieved from: 
Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (2011) About Biofeedback. Retrieved from:
Blumenstein, B., PhD., & Weinstein, Y., PhD. (2011). Biofeedback training: Enhancing athletic performance. Biofeedback (Online), 39(3), Retrieved from ountid=27965
Davis, P. A., & Sime, W. E. (2005). Toward a psychophysiology of performance: Sport psychology principles dealing with anxiety. International Journal Of Stress Management, 12(4), doi: /

26. References:
Hammond, D. (2007) Neurofeedback for the Enhancement of Athletic Performance and Physical Balance The Journal of the American Board of Sport Psychology Volume ; Article # 1 Retrieved from: absp-journalhammond1.pdf
Operant Conditioning. (n.d.) American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. (2011). Retrieved from:
Paul, M., & Garg, K. (2012). The effect of heart rate variability biofeedback on performance psychology of basketball players. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 37(2), doi:

27. References:
Perry, F. D., M.A., Shaw, L., EdD., & Zaichkowsky, L., PhD. (2011). Biofeedback and neurofeedback in sports. Biofeedback (Online), 39(3), Retrieved from ?accountid=27965
Sherlin, L. H., Larson, N. C., & Sherlin, R. M. (2013). Developing a performance brain training(TM) approach for baseball: A process analysis with descriptive data. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 38(1), doi:
Zaichkowsky, L. (2006) ndustry Challenges Facing Sport Psychology Retrieved from: es.htm