24/11/09 - Week 09 - Psychology Case Study

Case study:

A new player to a Premier league hockey team started the season well, on the back of being selected for the U21 training squad. However, her/his performance has not been as good as her/his team mates expect from such a player and they have been openly criticising her/him both on and off the pitch. This has resulted in a lack of motivation and confidence, so much so that s/he has recently been arriving late for training and sometimes doing very little whilst there.
Determine why the player may be behaving like this and apply appropriate sport psychology theories to interpret what is happening. Offer some suggestions on interventions you could provide to help him, the team and his coach overcome the issues.

You will have until Tuesday 1st December to submit your answers, in the groups you worked in on 24th, to Moodle. This will count as formative assessment for you in this module.

Interventions with player

Possibilities
Fitness
Personal Issues
Engaging with team mates
Crowd effect

Agreed plan of action

Player to agree to achievable goals to increase motivation, confidence and fitness
Me to promise to sort the team and coach out (to motivate him)
E.g. to arrange team bonding session

Interventions with coach

Ask
Why has this situation arisen?
Are there issues with coaching the team?

Agreed plan of action

Does the coach want a man management refresher course?
Coach to support and motivate the player
I should promise to investigate issues that the team and player may have

Interventions with team

Ask
Why all the criticism?

Agreed plan of action

Recognise common goals
Team leaders to promote team goals
Team bonding
I should promise to investigate issues that the coach and player may have
Some Notes

High Expectations

Criticism – promotes lack of motivation (direction and effort)
and lack of confidence

Hence lateness and low contribution

Coach should support player and be positive

Get feedback understand how player is feeling

Possible use of mental imagery, goal setting and self talk

Team issues – team cohesion
Desire for success (common goal, task cohesion)

Team leaders to be positive

Appropriate Sport Psychology Theory
I suggest the “Competence Motivation Theory” is illustrated here, where Weinberg and Gould (2007, p. 67) suggest that an athlete’s perception of control works alongside self-worth and competence evaluations to influence motivation.
See separate Sports Psychology document for more research on theories.