Sports Psychology (251041)

Learning Outcomes

1.    Understand and frame a set of contents (including goals, scope of intervention and practice) of Sports Psychology and the role of the sports psychologist.
2.    Understand the contribution that the psychology of sports and mental training can have in improving individual performance, both in athletes starting sports activity, as in elite athletes
3.    Acquire a set of knowledge and competencies that allow the student to identify and characterize the psychological mechanisms inherent to sports and physical activity; recognize the thoughts, emotions and behaviours of all the agents involved.
4.    To analyse the determining factors of the practice of physical activity and their psychological consequences on health, personal development, well-being and quality of life.
5.    Analyse the influence of psychological factors, processes and mechanisms on behaviour in sports and physical activity contexts and vice versa;
6.    Develop skills to enhance personal and social development through sport.
7.    Analyse the benefits of exercise and physical activity and learn ways to maximize the psychological benefits resulting from active lifestyles throughout life.
8.    Develop psychological skills to support the athlete's long-term development, managing family relationships and psychosocial variables that determine the career.
9.    Develop psychological skills to avoid psychosocial risks associated with sports practices.
10.    Learn specific methods and techniques for planning and intervening with athletes with a view to improving sports performance.
11.    To know the professional contexts of practice and to contact the professionals of the field, in particular, in clubs and sports academies.
12.    Learning in a self-oriented way; Ability to communicate (oral and written); Ability to reflect and decision.

Study Program

1.    Introduction to Sports Psychology
1.1.    The Psychology of Sports, Exercise and Physical Activity
1.2.    Training in Sports Psychology
1.3.    The role and scope of intervention of the sports psychologist
1.4.    Knowing sports modalities as a prerequisite
2.    Historical framework and evolution of Sports Psychology
2.1.    The Psychology of Sports today
2.2.    The Psychology of Sports in Portugal
3.    Psychological Processes in Sports Psychology
4.    Psychological differences between individual and collective sports
5.    Sport and the development of personality/identity
5.1.    Personality characteristics
5.2.    Self-concept, self-confidence and self-esteem
6.    The motivation in the construction of the athlete
6.1.    Motivation, perception and causal attributions
6.2.    Principles of reinforcement
6.3.    Intrinsic motivation
7.    Management and regulation of emotions
7.1.    Emotional intelligence in sport
7.2.    Activation, stress and anxiety
7.3.    Anxiety reduction techniques
7.4.    Activation induction techniques
8.    Attention and concentration
8.1.    Types of attention focusing
8.2.    Attention/concentration problems
8.3.    Improved attention/concentration
9.    Group Dynamics
9.1.    How do you turn the group into a team?
9.2.    Development of a spirit and team climate
9.3.    Individual and group performance
10.     Group leadership and cohesion
10.1.    Leadership styles
10.2.    Group leadership or with an individual
10.3.    Cohesion, unity and team spirit
10.4.    Leadership and optimization of interpersonal relationships
11.    Competition and Cooperation
11.1.    Competition in the sporting process: positive and negative aspects
11.2.    Development of cooperation 
12.    Communication in Sport
12.1.    The communication process
12.2.    Constructive criticism
12.3.    Communicate to motivate
13.    Family, parental involvement and interpersonal relationships
13.1.    Understanding family and parental involvement in sport
13.2.    The importance of parental support
13.3.    Relationships parents-athletes-coach-institution
13.4.    Interpersonal relationships and group cohesion
14.    The sport of initiation
14.1.    Sports Initiation and training and the psychological development of children and young people
15.    High performance sport
15.1.    Different psychological constraints that stimulate (or limit) the athlete
15.2.    Pressure of expectations
15.3.    Competition preparation and preparation on competition 
16.    Psychology, injuries, disabilities, adapted sports and Paralympic games
17.    Career transitions
17.1.    Post-career life
18.    The philosophy of training
18.1.    Psychological training. Notion of mental training
18.2.    Planning and management of psychological training
18.3.    Psychological training methods
19.    Resilience and mental strength in sport
20.    Aggressive behaviours in a sports context
21.    Burnout and overtraining
22.    Theoretical models and intervention in Sport Psychology
22.1.    Clinical approach
22.2.    Organizational approach
22.3.    School and sports supervision and guidance
22.4.    Psychological Skills Training
22.5.    Mindfulness
22.6.    Psychological Coaching
22.7.    Imagery
22.8.    Goal setting
22.9.    Neurolinguistic programming

Bibliography

MAIN REFERENCES: 

Dosil, J. (2004). Psicología de la actividad física y del deporte. McGraw-Hill.     
Dosil, J. (Ed) (2005). The sport psychologist's handbook: A guide for sport‑specific performance. John Wiley & Sons.
Gill, D.L. (2008). Psychological dynamics of sport and exercise. Human Kinetics.    
Horn, T. S. (2008). Advances in sport psychology. Human Kinetics.
Hill, K. L. (2001). Frameworks for sport psychologists: Enhancing sport performance. Human Kinetics.
Jarvis, M. (2006). Sport psychology: A student’s handbook. Routledge.
Lavallee, D., Kremer, J., Moran, A. P. & Williams, M. (2004). Sport psychology: Contemporary themes. Palgrave MacMillan.
Mota, J., & Sallis, J. F. (2002). Actividade física e saúde: Factores de influência da actividade física nas crianças e nos adolescentes. Campo das Letras.
Paula-Brito, A. (Coord.) (2002). Psicologia do desporto. INUAF (Instituto Superior D.Afonso III).
Samulsky, D. (2002). Psicologia do exporte. Manole Ed.
Serpa. S. (1995). Psicologia do desporto: Evolução em Portugal. Psicologia, 10, 7-15.
Serpa,S. & Araújo, D. (Eds.) (2002). Psicologia do desporto e do exercício: compreensão e aplicações. Faculdade de Motricidade Humana. 
Smith, D. & Bar-Eli, M. (2007). Essential readings in sport and exercise psychology. Human Kinetics publishers.
Tenenbaum, G. & Eklund, R. (2007). Handbook of sport psychology. Wiley, Hoboken.
Weinberg, R. S., & Gould, D. (2017). Fundamentos da psicologia do esporte e do exercício. Artmed Editora.