1. Enhance concentration
Tsung-Min Hung, Ph.D.
National Taiwan Normal University

2. What is concentration Focusing on relevant environmental cues
Maintaining attentional focus
Maintaining situational awareness
Shifting attentional focus

3. Types of attentional focus
A broad focus: perceive several occurrences simultaneously (e.g., basketball point guard).
A narrow focus: respond to only one /two cues (e.g., baseball batter)
An external focus: direct attention outward.
An internal focus: direct inward to thoughts or feelings.

4. Attentional problems 1 Internal distracters:
1.Attending to past events
2.Attending to future events
3.Choking under pressure
4.Overanalyzing body mechanics
5.Fatigue
6.Inadequate motivation

5. Attentional problems 2 External distracters: 1.Visual distracters
2.Auditory distracters

6. Self-talk process 1 Missing an important shot in tennis
Negative: What an idiot I am-I’ll
never win now.(Anger,
hopelessness, increased muscle
tension)
Positive: Keep your eyes on the
ball-this match isn’t over. (Better
concentration, optimism, calmness)

7. Self-talk process 2 Setback in rehabilitating a knee injury
Negative: I’ll never get back in the
starting lineup.(hopelessness,
anger, frustration)
Positive: This type of injury just
takes time to heal, so I need to
continue to work hard. (optimism,
motivation, increased effort)

8. Using self-talk to enhance concentration
Negative
Positive
You idiot-how could you miss such an easy shot
Everyone makes mistakes-just concentrate on the next point
I’ll never recover from this injury
Healing takes time. I just continue to exercise every day
He robbed me on the line call-that ball was definitely in
There’s nothing I can do about it. If I play well, I’ll win anyway
I’ll take it easy today and work out hard tomorrow
If I work hard today, and the next work out will be easier tomorrow.
That was a terrible serve
Just slow down and keep your rhythm and timing
I’ll never stay with this exercise program
Just take one day at a time and make exercise fun
I never play well in the wind
It’s windy on both side of the courts. This requires extra concentration.

9. Parking thoughts
This exercise is effective in eliminating negative, intruding thoughts.
Use visualization to identify unwanted thoughts, write it down on paper, and place this paper in some other place(parking).
Upon completion of the performance, the athlete can go back and deal with the issue by “unparking” it.

10. HR biofeedback training

11. Tips for improving concentration on site
Use simulations in practice
Use cue words
Use nonjudgemental thinking
Establish routine
Develop competition plans
Practice eye control
Stay focus in the present
Overlearn skills

12. Thanks for your attention
Tsung-Min Hung, Ph.D.
Tel: