Keep in mind, you can refer to all previous sections to gain an understanding about the origin of perceptions held by the players. So, scoring poorly does not neccesarily mean you are a poor coach.
What needs to be done if the score is EXCELLENT 45-50?
Scoring in this bracket would mean that the players feel you contribute positively to their ability to deal very well with their own levels of stress, anxiety, and arousal. Therefore, as a Coach it is your responsibility to ensure that these levels are at least maintained, if not improved further.
As a coach, it would seem that you are doing everything right in managing these troublesome emotions. However, some management techniques include (as mentioned in Player Education Section A) :
- Maintaining good nutrition.
- Regular Exercise.
- Healthy sleeping patterns
- Daily Relaxation.
(Atkinson, 2004)
What needs to be done if the score is GOOD, OR SATISFACTORY 30-44?
Obviously, there is always going to be room for improvement. There is nothing wrong with having some level of stress, anxiety or problems with motivation and concentration. Research shows that having a modicum of stress or anxiety is stimulating and improves performance, but too much can be debilitating. (Partridge, 2000).
Therefore, it is a judgement call on your behalf, the Coach. If you feel their performance and psychological health is not suffering as a result of this score, then taking no action is a positive step. However, if you feel you would like to get them into that excellent bracket, and really see if you can get your players to reach their potential, then refer to below for ways to do this. But remember, this is their perception of you as a coach, and not only for your own benefit, but for that of the team, you want that to be as healthy as possible.
What needs to be done if the score is UNSATISFACTORY OR POOR 10-29?
There are numerous in game, in training and outside of sport all-together execises and strategies that can be employed to ensure efficient management of these troublesome emotions held by your players. But many of thse strategies overlap into other life aspects. So, employ the below at your own discretion with the aim of maximising benefit gained from them, and finding the one that is most effective for a give player/team.
- alleviate pressure, so you do whatever you can to take the burden of a
stressor in the sport. Your ability to effectively manage it will surpass the
players or teams.
- focus or relaxation exercises, prior to the game. This can be in the
form of deep breathing, stretching exercises to release tension, finding an
outlet, remind the player of the task at hand. Basically, find a way to
replace negative energy with positive energy.
- encourage learning from mistakes, rather than instil regret and shame
for making an error. You want maximise repeat effort and participation.
- overcome mental barriers, "we can't beat this team", or "I am too
tired". A reminder that everyone thought a 4 minute mile was impossible
before Roger Bannister broke it. It was broken 59 times later in the
same year.
- provide a goal or focus, players may be stressed or tired, so provide
them with something to work toward. Eg. against a weak team, aim to
score double your team's average.
- train with realistic game situations, takes the pressure and stress
away in tense situations if they have done it before
(Partridge, 2000)
- try to identify early signs of stress:
tension, drawness, emotional instability, concentration difficulty,
increased distractability, decreased ability to deals with information,
changes in personality, fear of effort or competition, hesitation
(Hollander, Meyers & LeUnes, 1995)
- refer to the links page for relaxation website
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
Poor
45-50
39-44
30-38
20-29
10-19
questions 99-108
