Periodizing, planning and

individualising the psychological

preparation

Alina Gherghisan – Sport Psychologist

COACH
 Mental training (Psychological
preparation) is a core component
sports training (sports preparation)
and respects the same principles
 Psychological
preparation

Tactical
preparation

Technical preparation

Physical preparation (general and

specific)
• Creates the fusion between sports
(athletic) preparation and mental
preparation:
• Understanding
• Acceptancing
• Using
• Integrating
 Individual
competition strategies

Specific mental skills

Basic mental skills

 Mental skills periodization involves

• 1. Knowing or familiarizing with the annual training

planning/or olympic cycle training planning.

• 2. Reporting the psychological preparation to each athletic

preparation phase.

• 3. Manipulating continously the volume and the intensity of

psychological preparation in each of the preparation phase.
 Step 1: Reporting psychological
preparation to athletic preparation

Present state/
Athletic peak Attitude toward
performance the competition

Competition Mental skills/

mental training
phase included in athletic
training sessions

Preparation Instruments/tools
for mental traing
phase included in athletic
training sessions
Basic
Basic mental
preparation skills
phase
 PHASE GENERAL GOALS
Preparation
General Developing the basic mental skills
Specific Developing the specific mental skills
Perfecting the basic mental skills
Competition
Precompetition Specific activities (included in the training sessons) that
can prepare the athlete to face the competition
Competition Activating pleasure, confidence and trust in own
resources, manifesting the Ego
Postcompetition/Discharge Consuming the result, resource regeneration
Transition FREE TIME (no sport at all)
Step 2: Integrating psychological
preparation into athletic training
Activating all the
resources necessary Present state/
Athletic peak for reaching the Attitude toward
performance individual maximum the competition
TRAINING
Factors in the
Competition environment Mental skills/
Trust in own resources mental training
phase Attittude training included in athletic
Focus and concentration training sessions
TRAINING
Developing the Instruments/tools
Preparation psychological skills for mental traing
phase Individual optimization included in athletic
goal setting
Relaxation/Activation
training sessions
Basic LAB
Basic mental
preparation Self-awareness
skills
Motor and mental
phase control
Will development
Increasing fatigue
tolerance
 Step 3: Volume and intensity
Volume: number of hours spent for mental training (quantity)

Intensity: dificulty of the tasks, the complexity of the skills, the consequencies
of failure (quality)
Skills Challenge Skills Challenge

Under-motivation/Boredom Over-motivation/Anxiety

Skill Challenge

Pleasure/Play/Trust/Excellence
 Psychological preparation periodization
Preparation/ Preparation Competition Transition
Training phase
General Specific Pre-competion Competition Discharge Transition

Encourage creativity
Identification of
discharge valves
Experimenting
models and
techniques
Adaptation of
Setting individual techniques Effective use of Individual and /
goals Offering Monitoring the psychological or group
How?
permanent degree of techniques Game / discussions
Individual history feedback achievement of the play Competition
evaluation Generating objectives Communication analysis Score
Individual files individual Communication Healthy optimism good points /
Individual and challenges Feedback Stimulating strengths
group discussions Experimenting with Encouragement confidence in one's Performance
Introduction of psychological Journal of own abilities evaluation and
somatic and techniques sensations and Stimulating the use not the result
cognitive Journal of emotions of instincts Reconsolidating
psychological sensations and Improvisation Stimulation of focus the coach-sports Return to
techniques emotions thatre techniques of attention relationship position 0
 Periodization and psychological preparation

Preparation/ Preparation Competition Transition

Training phase
General Specific Pre-competion Competition Discharge Transition

The
download/Con
Stress sumption of
management failure or
Stress Increasing the victory
management degree of coach- Feedback
Individual Self-regulation sports approach Emotional and
What? optimization techniques Emotional, moral motivational
Acknowledgeme objectives Experimenting and motivational support
nt/ Building Continuous and models and support Communicatio
relation, trust constant techniques Communication n Adjusting
and stability feedback The Adaptation of Feedback and
Open development of techniques Healthy strengthening
communication the will, the Communication optimism the coach- Return to
Personal mental resistance Emotional Limiting sports position 0
development Communication support expectations relationship
 Psychological preparation periodization

Preparation/ Preparation Competition Transition

Training phase
General Specific Pre-competion Competition Discharge Transition

Direction of
attention in
the coach A C A C A C A C A C A C
athlete diade

Athlete
Coach

General Specific Pre-comp Competition Discharge Tranzitio

 Psychological preparation periodization

Preparation/ Preparation Competition Transition

Training phase
General Specific Pre-competion Competition Discharge Transition

Direction of
attention in
the coach A C A C A C A C A C A C
athlete diade
Open Focused Open/Focused Focused Open com Open com
communication communication communication communication

Athlete
Coach

General Specific Pre-comp Competition Discharge Transition

 Periodization of psychological preparation

Preparation/ Preparation Competition Transition

Training phase
General Specific Pre-competion Competition Discharge Transition

Goals
S A S A S A S A S A S A
 Periodised psychological preparation, integrated
into the athletic planning (individual sports)
General preparation Specific Pre-competition Competition Post- Transiti
preparation competitio on
n
High volume Moderate to high Low volume Goal competition Recovery -
Athletic training

Low to moderate intensity volume High intensity (number of days of Toning

Low specificity High intensity High specificity competition, breaks training
High specificity between matches,
Specific training qualifications-finals,
Test competitions etc.)

Management of motivation, Awareness of Optimal level of Trust, flexibility, trust Consumpti -

pain and fatigue . sensations, self- activation, techniques Cognitive restructuring on of
Self-awareness: rising control, increase of / exercises / techniques Techniques of failure and
Psychological preparation

awareness regarding body, individual concentration games, resignification Tolerance success

sensations and states performance, emotional self- to the unknown, Performanc
Basic psychological/mental emotional regulation Routines ambiguity State of e
skills management; for competition, presence, here and now evaluation
Goal setting Development of activation / relaxation attitude Setting new
Activation/relaxation rhythm, strategies, goals
techniques improvement of concentration
individual skills
 Periodised psychological preparation, integrated
into the athletic planning (team sports)
General preparation Specific training/ Season Play-off Postcompe Transiti
Precompetition Goal competition Finals tition on

Aerobe training Moderated and high Low volume Goal competition Recovery -
Athletic training

Endurance training volume High intensity (number of days of Toning

Team training sessions High intensity High specificity competition, breaks training
and individual training High specificity between matches,
session Specialised and specific qualifications-finals,
Training aiming the training etc.)
organism adaptation to Test competitions
effort
Motivation Awareness of sensations, Optimal level of Trust, flexibility, trust Consumpti -
management, managing self-control, increase of activation, techniques Cognitive restructuring on of
pain and fatigue. individual performance, / exercises / techniques Techniques of failure and
Psychological preparation

Body awareness - emotional management; concentration games, resignification Tolerance success

developing awareness Development of rhythm, emotional self- to the unknown, Performanc
regarding states and improvement of regulation Routines ambiguity State of e
sensations individual skills for competition, presence, here and now evaluation
Basic psychological Constant contact activation / relaxation Attitude Strengthen the and
skills between team members, strategies, team's ability to make analysis
Goal setting group sessions concentration decisions Strengthening Setting new
Relaxation/activation Promote uniformity, creativity goals
techniques group initiative
Individual Collaborative
responsability activities
Team communication teambuilding
Together
 Together we are stronger!
PSYCHE AND SOMA!