Welcome to Mental Moments with Dr. Megan! This new section will share quick information and tips for various mental performance topics and issues each month. To get us started, two FSU sport psychology students break down the importance of emotion regulation and how you can better manage your emotions to maintain composure during competition.
Dr. Megan Buning, CMPC, is a faculty member within FSU COACH and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology.
Developing a Motivational Climate with Your Team
Tyler Green, M.S.
Headshot: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bwHWxj2TkWkpn8m4vyHihN01B9KpCJol/view?usp=sharing
Link to optional handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PF7kWhevFpWVIlwXTfNfqUz7qw5aFDj9/view?usp=sharing
Motivational climates are the environments created by individuals in an athlete's life including coaches, parents, teammates, and other influential individuals. This climate can either foster or hinder an athlete's success depending on the type of climate. The first type of climate, which has been shown to foster athlete success in several areas, is a Mastery or task-oriented climate. A mastery/task-oriented climate is focused on mastering or improving specific skills through displaying maximum effort. The second type of climate, which has been shown to hinder an athlete's success, is an ego-oriented climate which is one focused on being better than others. Mastery-oriented climates are beneficial (unlike ego-oriented climates) for a few reasons including that they often lead to improved psychological well-being in athletes, as well as higher levels of motor skill performance, more enjoyment and satisfaction in sport, increased levels of self-belief, and more fulfilling social interactions. Additionally, mastery-oriented climates are associated with less anxiety, and less feelings of pressure from parents and coaches. Coaches can foster a mastery-oriented climate by avoiding comparisons between athletes and instead focusing on individual improvement. Additionally, coaches can encourage athletes to select challenging tasks and to devote maximum effort to all tasks while reinforcing pushing through challenging times rather than giving up. Finally, mastery-oriented climates are created when coaches encourage and reinforce supporting one's teammates even while focusing on one's own personal improvement.