ABSTRACT
In this chapter we focus on how sport can be an environment for teaching life skills to athletes of all ages. Because we have adopted a life skills perspective, our aims may differ from other sport psychology orientations. Our objective is to promote the development of athletes both during their athletic careers and when their athletic careers are over. Life skilloriented sport psychologists work to help athletes develop the skills necessary to perform at their best in all areas of their lives. As illustrated in Table 18.1, we at the Life Skills Center seek to have athletes learn how to have competencies in the physical, technical, mental, emotional, and social domains. Athletes who adopt a life skills perspective strive to be physically fit, aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and confident. They have the ability to focus, set goals, use positive self-talk, have fun, choose their attitudes, relax, and manage and express emotions in healthy ways. These competencies are also needed to be a happy and well-balanced individual. Components of a successful student-athlete (© Life Skills Associates, 2004). https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table">
Physical:
How fit are you? Fitness refers to your strength, cardiovascular fitness and flexibility.
Do you eat correctly?
Do you drink enough water?
Do you get enough rest?
Technical:
What areas of sport have you and your coaches identified as areas for improvement?
What areas of the sport have you and your coaches identified as areas of strength?
Mental:
How focused are you?
How confident are you?
Do you have goals for yourself and a plan to reach them?
Are you able to be “in the present” when you need to be rather than thinking about nonsport issues or past/future sport mistakes and successes?
Are you able to separate your self-talk so that it is about your performance and not about you as a person?
Are you able to identify key self-talk statements to focus on related to your goals?
Emotional:
Are you able to play/have fun when you practice and in competition?
Are you able to choose your attitude?
Are you able to balance the various aspects of your life—study, sport, family, spiritual, relationships, and social life?
Do you know how to relax?
Are you able to manage and express your emotions–be excited, hurt, calm, disappointed, excited and ready, etc. when each is appropriate?
Social:
Are you able to offer support to friends, even to the point of “making someone else’s day?”
Are you able to seek support from others?
Are you able to give and receive feedback?
