Sport Psychology Sport psychology is the scientific study of the psychological factors that are associated with participation in sport, exercise and other types of physical activity. Sport psychologist show compassion while encouraging athletes. They listen and show that someone does care for these athletes. They come up with strategies for coping and other motivational techniques. Sport psychologist help athletes understand how participation in sport, exercise, and physical activity affects an individual's psychological development, health, and well-being throughout the life span. They help athletes use psychological principles to improve performance enhancement. Also, help individuals and teams set goals, cope with stress of school, parents, and peers. They make athletes aware of negative self-talk, acknowledge it, and refocus their thoughts and images. They teach techniques and approaches to satisfy a variety of essential needs such as building confidence, learning new skills, forms of relaxation, and motivation for being focused. Finally they can educate coaching staff, athletes, parents, teachers, and students huge steps in preventing eating disorders, develop healthier attitudes towards in exercise, body image, and eating habits.

II. Background information

● When looking at rehabilitation mental imagery also prepares you for the unexpected outcomes of a situation, because it keeps you more realistic and less naive. This is essential when an athlete becomes injured. It is estimated that 17 million athletes are injured a year in the United States alone. The impact of injury is far more than physical; it can hinder an athlete's confidence, self-esteem, and even a sense of identity. With the medical advances in the treatment of injuries and the decrease in healing time, it becomes very important for an athlete to address the mental aspects of rehabilitation. An athlete can use different relaxation techniques and pain controls to ease the injury. Also, by using mental imagery they are able to practice not only on the playing grounds but in their mind. Visual imagery increases energy and avoids injuries as well. Not only will visualization improve athletic performance, but it will enhance motivation and overall enjoyment of the sport. An athlete can imagine the healing process and see in the future of being completely healed. Positive self talk contributes to personal well-being. Positive self-talk was reported more frequently by athletes and only under highly stressful situation negative self talk takes over. Self-talk becomes apparent during the recovery process of injuries. Positive self talk especially in rehabilitation, is also recommended for enhancing healing.

III. Techniques ● Relaxation - Meditations- There are many types of meditation - Autogenic Training - Heaviness (hold big books) -Warmth (cover hands and feet) -Heartbeat (run in place then sit down) -Respiration (rapid breathing then slow breathing) -Solar plexus warmth (hot pad or hot water bottle) -Forehead coolness (cold cloth on forehead) - Progressive Relaxation - Pinch the dorsal web of your hand (located between the thumb and forefinger) until you feel discomfort. Do it again (with other hand) while relaxing all your muscles. -Muscle Tension -Yoga/Tai Chi -Breathing exercises -Massage -Taking a nap -Listening to soft or calming music/sounds -Relaxation anchors -Take time to relax

● Mental Imagery- is used through the interpretation of reality through the mind. Imagery is an important aspect to many athletes due to the fact that it is an excellent way to prepare for competition as well as increasing motivation -Create perfect picture - Recall the patterns used to complete the action -Believe in "what you see is what you get" -Visualization - Images are pictures - Kinesthetic imagery is how the body feels - Auditory imagery is hearing the cheers of fans and the crowd - Rehearse perfect picture - Mental breaks -Pain Control Visualization - Volume Knob - Sensory Substitution - Special place - Lock Box - Tunnel - Numbness - Red Ball - Cool Water

● Thought Management- It is important for an athlete to take away the negatives and focus positively. Self talk contributes to personal well-being. It also becomes apparent during the recovery process of injuries. -Positive Self-talk -single cue words ( e.g. "concentration") - phrases ( e.g., "come on") - full sentences (e.g., "Don't worry, just keep going) -Switch to a positive thought -Release negatives into a stress box -Shrink the negatives - Eliminate negative self-talk

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