Some people are more self-confident, others are less self-confident. Nevertheless, everybody has an idea of what you talk about when referring to self-confidence. According to a popular definition, self-confidence is “one’s belief that he or she can successfully execute a desired behavior” (Feltz, 2007). Especially in sports, self-confidence is a very crucial trait. While it is believed that there are a few negative impacts that come with being self-confident, the positive impact of self-confidence, like the ability to effectively overcome errors, definitely outweighs them (Woodman; Akehurst; Hardy; Beattie, 2010). Research and literature on this subject shows, that there is also such a thing as an optimal confidence level. The most important …show more content…
In order to expand on the already existing research, we collected data on self-confidence through a questionnaire that was given to the FIU Male Baseball Team. This survey included 19 team members (17 players, 1manager, and 1 coach) and the data was collected in March 2016. The questions asked in the survey, as well as the results after evaluating the data follow. The survey, conducted for this project started off by asking the participants for demographic information like age and role on the team. The first actual question on self-confidence asked who the most confident player on the team was. While one player received the most votes with four out of 19, two players tied for second place with three votes. Interestingly, the player leading the poll is not the best player on the team, if you look into team statistics. The questionnaire proceeded by asking the participants what it was, that made the person they listed confident. For this question, the …show more content…
Many things we covered were either new information or reassurance on the relationships between self-confidence and performance. With a well ranged survey to present to the players and coaches of the FIU Baseball team, we had the opportunity to take away information from coaching, teaching, and actual competing in athletic contests. The project included data averages from coaches, managers, and players leading age differences to be a significant factor in our results. This also gave us different views on the answers to certain
Coaches are always looking for a better understanding of what makes up a winning team. This knowledge would help them in recruiting athletes that could improve the team’s statistics in the areas we observed. We took the entire statistical breakdown from the 1999-2000 season and were hoping to find any key statistical areas that could be directly related to winning percentage.
...ntial stressors when competing. According to Nicholls & Polman (2007), the capability to cope with stress plays a significant part in how well an athlete performs during and out of competition. In line with this research, the self-efficacy construct has been found to impact how an individual appraises a situation and the corresponding way in which they cope. Self-efficacy can be defined as an individual’s beliefs about their ability to attain a certain outcome which is further expressed in their views about their capacity to execute a specific behavior or task. Since stress is a consistent and defining variable in sports and life outside of sports, it is crucial that athletes develop ways to successfully cope with stress and effectively implement these methods in order to avoid negative effects in competition and in life (Nicholls, Polman, Levy, & Borkoles, 2010).
...nge, and the higher the goal striving. A psychological theory that I personally feel is applicable to sports psychology is Albert Bandura's theory of self-efficacy, Bandura believed that self-efficacy is “the belief in one’s capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to manage prospective situations.". His theory is the most commonly used theory, pertaining to self-confidence in sports and motor performance. Bandura’s theory poses self-efficacy as a common cognitive mechanism for mediating people's motivation and behavior, it delves into the sports region of psychology because a lot of the cognitive thought process in sports revolve around some sort of incentive or motive. Self-efficacy is the primary determinant of one’s behavior, it has its influences when proper incentives are offered and the necessary skills for the sport are present.
Mental preparedness separates the average baseball players from the elite ones. A dedicated baseball player shows up ready to play and succeed in whatever situation may arise. Baseball is a mental game, and concentration is key to keeping a player mentally prepared. Baseball is both a fast and slow sport, for it is slow between pitches, but very intense during them. During pitches, it is a players time to regroup himself and think of all the situations that could arise during the next pitch. During the play, everything happens fast, and there is no time to think about what to do, it is all instinct, so the ability to avoid mental errors is crucial. Mental mistakes often lead to physical mistakes, which is when everything goes sour. Mental confidence plays such a critical role in how a person physically plays. When a player is mentally down on himself, it is extremely hard to raise his confidence back up, and most of the time he cannot. A determined baseball player’s mind is totally different, an error is a learning experience,
Baseball Hall of Famer and great Yogi Berra once said, “baseball is 90% mental and the other half physical. The psychology of baseball has always gone beyond the believed capabilities of all human beings and continues to stun scientists throughout the world. With the increase in physical abilities, athletes look towards professionals to find strength in their cognitive abilities to enhance their overall performance. Sports psychologists are also being used in order to aid athletes who have been struggling in either Minor or Major League Baseball. Sports psychology can help players from both the aspects of hitting and pitching by the use of techniques such as personal motivation, stress management, and visualization.
Although self-confidence may not seem to be a vital part of a person’s composition, it helps shape the individual’s personality and how each person view themselves, which will be a part of them for their entire life. Self-confidence is said to be a feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and judgement (Confidence). When you meet someone for the first time, you can typically tell if they have self-confidence. Why do some people seem to have it when others do not? There are many factors that come to play when determining one’s self-confidence starting with where it comes from, to why people have self-confidence, as well as the positives and negative of having self-confidence.
Expertise. In R. Eklund & G. Tenenbaum (Eds.), Handbook of Sport Psychology, (pp. 184-202; 3rd edition). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
This research project was based on my hypotheses and trying to find out whether or not it is true or not. I used successful teams to help with the process. From the resources gathered, it remains clear to me that my hypotheses is true, but I do not have the information to back it up. However, past results state otherwise yet no clear evidence is available with the possible answer. The research approach involved qualitative research and the research technique was desktop research. Data analyze was used to show the impact mental toughness had on various sports.
Vickers and A. Mark Williams; Liebert & Morris, 1967: Martens et al., 1990, Taylor (p. 144) as a mental component when athletes become anxious they begin to think negatively about their current and future performances) and self-confidence. Somatic anxiety was a key component when assessing the true effects that it has on an athlete’s performance (Brustad & Wiggins, 1996). Brustad and Wiggins (1996) tested their theory on a group of 91 athletes. The athletes were between the ages of 14 to 36 years old that participated in a variety of sports: soccer, swimming, and track and field. Those who scored higher on self-confidence and scored lower in CA and SA found perceived their overall anxiety as facilitative (Wiggins & Brustad, 1996). Kirby and Liu (1999) found that athletes who participate in individual sports, such as track and field, have a lower self-confidence and higher levels of SA than those athletes who partake in team sports such as basketball and volleyball. The same holds true for figure skaters. The skaters experienced a substantial amount of CA and SA before their individual competitions in contrast to a team competition. The responsibility that was placed on the athletes in a team sport differed than the responsibility that an individual sport athlete may have (Martin & Halls,
The attribution theory is essential to coaching and understanding our athletes and their motivations. Throughout sports and competitive activities, individuals are determining whether the activity they are doing is a success or a failure. But the real question that needs to be asked is why are they attributing something as a success or a failure. What is guiding them to view something that can be as simple as getting out of bed in the morning as a success or failure? This paper will dive into why the attribution theory is so critical to coaching and how you can use it to guide yourself, your players, and your teams to become as successful as possible.
Suinn, R. M., & Clayton, R. D. (1980).Psychology in sports: methods and applications. Minneapolis, Minn.: Burgess Pub. Co..
Moreover, self-confidence is something that cannot be taught. It is up to the individual to decide how much belief that they possess inside of themselves. Further, the more people believe in success and in the achievements that they have accomplished in the past, the more they can firmly embrace new challenges in the future. In contrast, “confidence” is opposite to some of people’s negative personalities such as cowardness, timidity, and it can lead them to be afraid to fail, or do not dare to pursue their dreams. Throughout life, “confidence” can be expressed from the smallest action as a student presenting or contributing ideas to the class lessons, or a scientist announcing his inventions, or even a writer publishing his books. The best way to gain self-confidence is to look deep inside of ourselves and believe that we have the ability to overcome all obstacles and challenges we are faced with on a daily bases because our self-esteem is one of the few things that we have control over. Thus, practicing to be more confident is a crucial task people should do every
Taylor, D.L.(1996). A comparison of college athletic participants and non-participants on self esteem. Journal of College Student Development, 36, 444-451
Self-confidence is needed for success in sports. However, success is also essential in the enhancement of self-confidence in competitive sporting. This confirms that there is a great correlation between self-confidence and success in sports performances. Self-confidence is the degree of personal belief and trust in one's abilities, judgments, traits, strategies, and qualities. Self-confidence can be attained through the accumulation of unique achievements across the different competitive
Participating in a team sport can increase one’s self esteem. By being part of a team, you will give and receive praise. Receiving recognition from a team mate or a coach will boost your self esteem because you have been acknowledged for your efforts. As you are praised for your efforts, you will become more confident, thus improving your self esteem. Often times, the bond formed between team mates on the field translates into a friendship off the field. As team mates come to depend on each other and know that they are depended on, their level of commitment or responsibility to the game and skills needed for the game increases.