Sports Psychology

What Sports Psychology covers

Sports Psychology is examined in Paper 2, Socio-cultural influences and wellbeing in physical activity and sport. It covers Classification of skills, goal setting and SMART targets, information processing, types of guidance, types of feedback, arousal, the inverted-U theory and stress management and aggression, personality and motivation.

The 7 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Classification of skillsSkill against ability, and the basic–complex, open–closed, self-paced–externally paced and gross–fine continua, with skills classified and justified.Open →
• Goal setting and SMART targetsPerformance and outcome goals, why outcome goals are best avoided, how goals improve performance, and writing a SMART target for a performer.Open →
• Information processingThe input, decision making, output and feedback stages, the display and selective attention, short-term and long-term memory, and the model applied to a goalkeeper.Open →
• Types of guidanceVisual, verbal, manual and mechanical guidance, their advantages and disadvantages, and choosing guidance for a beginner or an elite performer.Open →
• Types of feedbackPositive and negative feedback, knowledge of results and knowledge of performance, intrinsic and extrinsic feedback, and matching feedback to the performer's level.Open →
• Arousal, the inverted-U theory and stress managementArousal and the inverted-U theory, under- and over-arousal, the arousal each skill needs, and deep breathing, mental rehearsal and positive self-talk.Open →
• Aggression, personality and motivationDirect and indirect aggression, introverts and extroverts and the sports that suit them, and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation with their strengths and risks.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Sports Psychology further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Open skill vs Closed skill

  Open skill: a movement performed in a changing, unpredictable environment. Closed skill: a movement performed in a stable, predictable environment.

• Performance goal vs Outcome goal

  Performance goal: a personal target judged against one's own earlier standard. Outcome goal: a target based on winning or the final result.

• Manual guidance vs Mechanical guidance

  Manual guidance: a coach physically moving or supporting the learner through a movement. Mechanical guidance: the use of equipment or aids, such as a float or harness.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is a skill in sport?

   Model answer

   A skill is a learned action intended to bring about a set result. A skilled movement is performed with maximum certainty and minimum time and energy.

2. 2

   What is ability?

   Model answer

   Ability is an inherited, stable trait that decides a person's potential to learn a skill. Balance and coordination are examples of abilities.

3. 3

   How does a skill differ from an ability?

   Model answer

   A skill is learned through practice, while an ability is inherited. Skills are built on abilities, so good balance helps a gymnast learn a handstand.

4. 4

   Why are skills classified on a continuum rather than into fixed groups?

   Model answer

   Most skills are not purely one type or the other. A continuum lets a skill be placed nearer one end according to its features.

5. 5

   What is a basic skill?

   Model answer

   A basic skill is a simple movement that needs little concentration or decision making. Running and jumping are basic skills.

6. 6

   What is a complex skill?

   Model answer

   A complex skill needs a lot of concentration, decision making and coordination. A somersault in gymnastics and a tumble turn in swimming are complex skills.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Sports Psychology revision questions

What does Sports Psychology cover in AQA GCSE Physical Education?

7 subtopics: classification of skills, goal setting and smart targets, information processing, types of guidance, types of feedback, arousal, the inverted-u theory and stress management and aggression, personality and motivation. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Sports Psychology organised?

By the AQA 8582 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.