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THE ROLE OF SPORT PSYCHOLOGY IN SPORTS' PERFORMANCE

ENHANCEMENT

Article · December 2007

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 THE ROLE OF SPORT PSYCHOLOGY IN SPORTS'
PERFO&.\1At~CE ENHAJ,,",CEMENT

By
Dr. J. B. Vipene
Department of Educational Foundations
Faculty of Technical & Science Education
Rivers State University of Science and Technology
Nkpolu, Port Harcourt
&

Dr. (Mrs.) V. C. Emeribe

Department of Vocational & Special Education
Faculty of education
University of Calabar

ABSTRACT
This article chronicles the V2-l.0US roles which sport psychology could
play in the sports performance enhancement, which subsequently could
lead to sports development in the country. Some of the identified roles
in the article include resolution of the Athlete's emotional conflict,
mental preparation, team building discipline etc. Problems encountered
by the sports psychologists in the country are also mentioned such as;
non-utilisation of the sports psychologists by sport organizations, low
budget for sports, lack of awareness of the roles of the sports
psychologist. Some recommendations are also made such as
organization of workshops, conference and employment of sport
psychologists by various sports ministries and councils. The paper
concluded by saying sport psychology should be employed as a
scientific training means for Nigerian athletes in order to enhance sports
performance.

INTRODUCTION
It is a truism that sports is one of the most effective weapons of
exhibiting political might the world over. I~ is used to show a state or

/
VipeneJ. P. and Emeribe V.c. The Role a/Sport Psychology .... 49

nation's supremacy over other nations and foster national and

international friendship.
A country or nation does not just ascertain her supremacy over
others by sitting and professing it There are a lot involved in it. There
must be adequate preparation towards achieving any form of success in
sports. The preparation takes several forms, there is usually a planning
stage. This may take the form of budgetary allocation to sports, there is
the physical training session for the acquisition of skills and techniques,
which of course is one of the most important preparations.
There are some invaluable services that sports have come to stay
with, and if over looked may lead to poor outings and that is; medical
and psychological services.
This paper therefore intends to concentrate on psychological
services and the relevance of such services to sports development in
Nigeria.

What is Sports Psychology?

The mind is sports science last frontier, all other systems have been
used extensively to improve the athletic's performances. Kinesiology,
the science of human movement, have been used extensively to improve
the players' movements. Even the athletes blood has been sampled and
his/her biorhythms chartered (Straub 1980). He further explained that
only the mind seems to have been neglected when considering the
general input of an athlete. However, he defined sports psychology.as
the science of psychology applied to athletes and the athletic situation.
It is the science that explains why we do what we do in the sports area.
Singer (1980) asserted that psychology is, and always has been an
integral part of sports. In this part of the world, this realization is very
recent and not even involved in the training of the athletes most times.
According to Ikulayo (1990) sports psychology is said to be a
branch of sports science involving the science of psychology applied to
sportsmen/women in athletic situations. She further said, it can also be
defined as an attempt to study individuals in sports situations in order to
analyse, explain, describe, modify, alter or predict behavior through
various psychological means. ••
Journal ofKinetics and Health Education Perspectives Vol. 1 No.2 Dec., 2007 50

Similarly, Vipene (2005) defined sport psychology as a science that

deals with the emotional aspects of physical performance. In the
context of competitive sports it is an attempt to explain and predict
behavior of an athlete in the environment of competitive sports.
The science of sports psychology does end with the athlete on the
field of play only. It spill to other aspects of the competitor ranging
from the field of play to hislher domestic activities which in tum will
affect sports performance. Hence it becomes necessary to apply this
science of sports to competitors. However, there has been cases where
psychologists and Psychiatrists work with athletes. The concern has
been to make the athlete better.

The Role of Sport Psychology in Sports Performance Enhancement

Sports Psychology has a lot of roles to play in the realization of the
nations sporting objectives, the following are therefore some of the
roles which Sports Psychology can play in enhancing performance.
1. Since the totality of the athlete's personality is involved on the
playing field, one of the major roles of the sports psychologist is in
the area of behavioural control of the athlete. This could be used
for performance enhancement through the modification of
undesirable attitudes.

2. The sports psychologist work on the emotional conflict of each

individual and needs of the individual athlete, which makes him
take decisions that are crucial to success or failure during play.
They must be treated as individual realizing their differences, hence
the need of one person must be separated from those of another
person who comes from a different background.

3. Ikulayo (1990 & 2003) says the Sports Psychologist is also involved
in crisis intervention. Crisis is viewed as an acute situation with
emotional responses that interfere with or mar an athlete's ability to
perform excellently. Ensuring high class performance of athletes -
under pressure of competition by the application of various
psychological principles before, during and after competitions. The
sports psychologist assist the athlete to block out stress provokingly.
VipeneJ. P.· and Emeribe V. C The Role ofSport Psychology ....

Thoughts, discouraging self doubts, avoidance of negative imagery

and inhibitory self statements which may impair sports
performance.
4. Mental preparation is also taken up by the psychologist, this
involves according to Adedeji (1987) our understanding of those
factors that yield a lot of influence on the athlete. These are social
status, the home, the economic background, their religious setting,
physical tolerance, the moral background, social status and value
system in the society.

5. The sports psychologist is also involved in performance

enhancement OT the athlete, to facilitate the learning process, errors-
[hat athletes make may be corrected during skill acquisition.

6. This can be by team building through testing and observation of

behaviour. Sports psychology also enhances communication
.amongst the athletes and officials. This may also involve
interpersonal communication among athletes. This is a very
important role. It should be noted that communication is very
important, even in our various families, in our places of work etc. It
should not be assumed that the person knows or that he is suppose
to know. The person should be told what is to be done, in order to
maintain cordial relationship. As soon as communication is
established, a relationship has been established and treatment plan'
can be made which varies from individual to individual.
Treatment may involve simply talking with the individual which
may help to restore the athlete's confidence, ifhe is not confident in
himself or herself.

7. Teaching the athlete how to cope with pain. According to Adedeji

(1987) an athlete needs to understand what pain is and how pain
relate to improvement in sports, so be should develop a positive ~
mental attitude towards pain.

8. The sports psychologist will use his/her knowledge of human

•
behaviour in motivating athletes. Mdtivation does not mean
Journal ofKinetics and Health Education Perspectives VoL 1 No.2 Dec., 2007 52

material rewards like money, house, car etc. this time motivating
the athlete in training by varying training methods, makes them
have feedback of progress in training, and also makes them to have
a say in the training plan.
9. Stress management is another important area where the sport
psychologist helps in enhancing sports performance. Coping with
stress is developed in the athletes. There are various techniques that
can be adopted in dealing with stress.

10. Discipline is deliberately taught among the athletes. The discipline

of sports man/woman affords the individual to develop very high
self-esteem which is said to enhance performance, create
confidence, making the athlete satisfied to feel involved in sports
(Weinbeing and Gould 1995). Athletes who develop self-esteem
can get more motivated and become more productive (Core 1990).

Sports Psychology is said to teach the individual to be positive,

supportive and sensitive. These skills are described by Lyons
(2004) as self-worth building skills.
These and many more are relevant areas the sports psychologist
assists in the development of sports. thus enhancing peak
performance.

PROBLEMS E?\'COUNTERED BY THE SPORT

PSYCHOLOGISTS L~ NIGERIA
One major problem confronted by the sport psychologists today is
lack of awareness of the immerse benefit derivable from the services
provided by the sport psychologists by the average Nigerian
athlete/player. They are aware of coach, team manager and also
Doctors because of the physical injuries they may have L.'1 course of
playing.
Those in sports management and administration position in sports
either refuse to use the psychologists or fill such spaces with untrained
persons for lack of interest in sports developme~~
Vipene.l. P. and Em eribe V.c. The Role ofSport Psychology .... 53

Nigeria has not really found sports as one major section of investment,
sports is still looked at as a social service that needs not consume a
major part of the budget.
The public still record the athletes as mediocres that not really
require what it takes to be taken care of.
Non-licensing of professional sports psychologists, which gives room to
everybody including these who have not undergone any training in the
field encroach into the area at will, hence no positive results are
attained.
Carefree attitude of the professional sports psychologists what is
referred :0 as "give away" attitude makes it difficult for the profession
to grow.

RECOMMENDATIONS
There should be sensitization workshop and conferences all over the
country as was done in the early days of Sports Psychology Association
of Nigeria. This will enable the public to be aware once again thar the
body has something to offer our athletes.
In the profession, individuals should be voted into our various
positions on the basis of merit. The affairs of the Association should be
handled by committed professionals who will handle the Association as
their own property.
Government should deliberately e" oy sports psychologists in the
various Sports Ministries and Coun .1 the country to assist in the
performance enhancement. .

CONCLUSION
Due to the immeasurable contributions of psychology to, sports, this
paper therefore concludes that sports psychology is necessary and
should be employed in the scientific training of Nigerian athletes for
performance enhancement. It is .herefo: e relevant for the development
of sports in the country.
Journal ofKinetics and Health Education Perspectives Vol. 1.1\'0. 2 Dec., 2007 54

REFERENCES
Adedeji, J. A. (1987). Mental Preparation for Sports
Events/Competition - Psyche Up. Edited proceedings of the 2nd
National Conference of the Sports Psychology. Association of
Nigeria.

Core, R. C. ll.7)O). Spores Psychology, Concept and Applications:

(Second Edition). Dubuque, Iowa: Win C. Brown Publishers.

Ikulayo (1990). Understanding Sports Psychology. Lagos: EAJTCN

Press.

Ikulayo (2003). The Mind in the Body: Sports Psychology as the

Cornerstone to Sport achievements and greatness. Lagos:
University of Lagos Press.

Lyons, M. (2004). In support of a writt .urriculum based on sport

Psychology for High School Sports Team.
http.//www/athleticinsi;Sht.com/vo13ss2/commentary.htm. Retrieved
23/2/04

Singer, R. N. (1980). Sports Psychology. An Overview. In W. F.

Straub, Sports Psychology: An Analysis of Athlete &
Behaviour. New York. Movement PUblications.

Straub, W. F. (1980). Sports Psychology: An Analysis of Athlete

Behaviour. New York: Movement Publications.

Vipene, J. B. (2005). Introduction to Psychological Foundations of

. Education. Port Harcourt: Harey Publications Co.

Weinbeing, R. S., Gould, D. (1995). Foundations of sport and

Exercise Psychology. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics.

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