Is Sports Psychology Measureable?

Performance

Sports Psychology Tips: Is Sports Psychology Measureable?

Many people don't recognise that Sports Psychology can be measured in many ways...

Sports psychology coaching is regarded by some as touchy/feely or pink and fluffy.  For instance, I’d be a very rich man the number of times I’ve heard the line, “You’re the guy who does the positive thinking stuff, ha, ha”.

Sadly, assumptions like this put a lot of people off receiving support which mean they drift along doing the same things time and time again, and go on to repeat the same mistakes.  I’ve seen this so many times in sport, and it is a huge reason why so many people get disillusioned, give up easily and fail to attack big, and seemingly out of reach goals!  Is this familiar?

The sports psychology coaching process is a very effective way of initiating change, developing people professionally and personally, as well as, hugely importantly delivering results.  Certainly, in my practice wherever possible I try to ensure clients can measure their progress, so that they can see that their investment was worthwhile at an individual and organisational level.  Also, for many individuals, having targets and being able to see tangible progress is a great way to enhance their motivation and confidence too.

Below is a list of some of the tools that I utilise in my practise to ensure we can measure your progress and you go on to achieve your goals.

Measure: Psychometric MTQ Plus or MTQ48  Questionnaire measures Overall Mental Toughness and the 4’C’s: Commitment, Challenge, Confidence and Control.

How Used: 1 – / During / End of Coaching Programme for individuals.

How Used: 2 – During / End of Coaching Programme – Team/Organisational wide so return on investment can be measured and wider cultural factors can be addressed.

Below is an image of some  Mental Toughness measures from the MTQ48 highlighted in a previous post.  In addition for a sample of a MTQ Plus Developmental or Coaching Report please get in touch.

Mental Toughness MTQ48

Measure: Tailored Questionnaires are devised that are specific to agreed KPI’s such as trust, team cohesion, team energy etc.

How Used: Club, Team or Organisational wide so return on investment can be measured and wider cultural factors can be addressed.

Measure: Heartmath, Inner Balance feature. Coherence is a measure of the patterns in the heart’s rhythm.  It reflects an orderly and harmonious synchronization among various systems in the body such as the heart, respiratory system and blood-pressure rhythms,

How Used: In individual and group programmes to boost focus, concentration and well-being.  Utilised in training, homelife and during challenging tasks.

Measure: Heart Rate Monitor

How Used: To measure heart rate in a training and actual environment to see how individuals respond to stress at an individual and/or team level.

In addition to this list a critical part of the coaching  process is to help you set outcome, performance and process goals which when done properly with an expert can really help you focus on what is important and provide a real sense of purpose.

If you would like to discuss how sports psychology coaching could help you please feel free get in touch.

Or if you found this article helpful, please share it with your friends, team-mates, parents or coaches.  You can also join our community – THE SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY HUB – for regular Sports Psychology tips, podcasts, motivation and support.

David Charlton

Best Wishes 

David Charlton

Global Sports Psychologist who is located near Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK and willing to travel Internationally.  David also uses online video conferencing software (Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp) on a regular basis and has clients who he has supported in USA, Canada, South America, UAE, Australian and New Zealand. 

Managing Director – Inspiring Sporting Excellence and Founder of The Sports Psychology Hub.  With over 10 years experience supporting athletes, coaches, parents and teams to achieve their goals, quickly.  

E: [email protected]

Helping Children Overcome Fear: A Parent’s Guide to Bravery & Calm

Conversations with Kids: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Children Overcome Fear and Mental Blocks For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Question for your

Read More »

BOOK REVIEW: How the Body Knows Its Mind – What Young Athletes Can Learn About Performing Under Pressure

Book Review – How the Body Knows Its Mind by Sian Beilock Introduction: Why This Book Matters for Young Athletes Today For children and young athletes, sport is becoming faster, more competitive, more public, and more emotionally demanding than ever.  Whether they’re transitioning into new sports or squads, experiencing professional contracts for the first time,

Read More »

For Sports Parents: ADHD in Sport: Helping Young Athletes Thrive

Conversations with Kids: Helping Young Athletes with ADHD Build Confidence, Focus & Resilience in Sport For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Question for

Read More »

Book Review: ADHD in Sport by Dr Josephine Perry – A Guide for Young Adult Athletes

Book Review – ADHD in Sport: Strategies for Success by Dr Josephine Perry ADHD has become increasingly recognised across the sporting world, with more young adult athletes stepping forward to explore how their attention differences influence their training, decision-making, performance, and well-being. Dr Josephine Perry’s ADHD in Sport: Strategies for Success arrives at exactly the

Read More »