Mental preparation for sports performance
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how mental preparation techniques improve performance
Key learning points
- Mental preparation techniques help performers to improve performance by beneficially managing their emotions.
- Mental rehearsal involves visualising a successful performance to improve confidence and focus.
- A warm up is a vital opportunity to mentally prepare for a performance.
Keywords
Mental preparation - mental techniques help to control emotions, manage stress and improve participation and performance
Mental rehearsal - a technique which involves the performer picturing themselves performing the skill perfectly or imagining positive outcomes before attempting it
Warm up - a period of time immediately before a performance in which the performer will physically and mentally prepare for the performance
Common misconception
Mental preparation is just for elite athletes.
Students should understand that everyone can benefit from mental preparation techniques and that performers in many fields of work practice them. They too could benefit in their own pursuits.
Teacher tip
This topic is often assessed for AO1 and AO2 together. Students must be comfortable with identifying a mental preparation technique (AO1) and then linking it to an impact on performance (AO2).
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why might a sports performer talk to themselves with positive statements about how well they can perform?
Q2.Match up how these techniques might help an athlete.
improve the performance of the skill when it's done for real
increase confidence in their ability to be successful
reduce stress and anxiety
Q3.Goal setting is a motivational method performers can use to help on what they want to achieve.
Q4.An athlete may use mental techniques to block out the crowd. How will this benefit them?
Q5.What does the term 'mental' refer to in sport psychology?
Q6.What is it called when we practice or repeat something?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.When can an athlete use mental preparation techniques?
Q2.Saying "I have worked hard for this, today I will achieve my goal" to yourself is an example of self-talk.
Q3.What roles can a coach play in mental preparation during the warm up?
Q4.Mental rehearsal is a technique in which the performer themselves performing the skill perfectly.
Q5.Match the benefit of mental rehearsal to the impact on performance.
reduces the noise and allows the perfomer to focus
performer approaches the task ready to perform successfully
limits the negative impact of anxiety such as muscles tightening up
reminds the performer what an effective performance/technique is
Q6.Which of these is not a benefit of mental rehearsal?
To help you plan your 11 physical education lesson on: Mental preparation for sports performance, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 physical education lesson on: Mental preparation for sports performance, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 physical education lessons from the Sports psychology: mental preparation for performance unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.