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Year 11
Edexcel

Mental preparation for sports performance

I can explain how mental preparation techniques improve performance

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New
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Year 11
Edexcel

Mental preparation for sports performance

I can explain how mental preparation techniques improve performance

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Mental preparation techniques help performers to improve performance by beneficially managing their emotions.
  2. Mental rehearsal involves visualising a successful performance to improve confidence and focus.
  3. A warm up is a vital opportunity to mentally prepare for a performance.

Keywords

  • Mental preparation - mental techniques help to control emotions, manage stress and improve participation and performance

  • Mental rehearsal - a technique which involves the performer picturing themselves performing the skill perfectly or imagining positive outcomes before attempting it

  • Warm up - a period of time immediately before a performance in which the performer will physically and mentally prepare for the performance

Common misconception

Mental preparation is just for elite athletes.

Students should understand that everyone can benefit from mental preparation techniques and that performers in many fields of work practice them. They too could benefit in their own pursuits.


To help you plan your year 11 physical education lesson on: Mental preparation for sports performance, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

This topic is often assessed for AO1 and AO2 together. Students must be comfortable with identifying a mental preparation technique (AO1) and then linking it to an impact on performance (AO2).
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why might a sports performer talk to themselves with positive statements about how well they can perform?
to relax their muscles
Correct answer: to increase their confidence
to scare the opposition
to increase their strength
Q2.
Match up how these techniques might help an athlete.
Correct Answer:imagining performing a skill well,improve the performance of the skill when it's done for real
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improve the performance of the skill when it's done for real

Correct Answer:talking positively to themselves,increase confidence in their ability to be successful
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increase confidence in their ability to be successful

Correct Answer:relaxation techniques,reduce stress and anxiety
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reduce stress and anxiety

Q3.
Goal setting is a motivational method performers can use to help on what they want to achieve.
Correct Answer: focus, concentrate
Q4.
An athlete may use mental techniques to block out the crowd. How will this benefit them?
Correct answer: they can focus on only the relevant information
Correct answer: they remove distractions
they can increase their anxiety levels
they can no longer be motivated by the crowd
Q5.
What does the term 'mental' refer to in sport psychology?
physical and emotional processes
Correct answer: emotional and cognitive processes
anatomical and cognitive processes
physical and anatomical processes
Q6.
What is it called when we practice or repeat something?
Correct Answer: rehearse, rehearsal

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
When can an athlete use mental preparation techniques?
only during the performance
before the performance but there won't be time during it
Correct answer: preparing for the performance and during the performance
Q2.
Saying "I have worked hard for this, today I will achieve my goal" to yourself is an example of self-talk.
Correct Answer: positive
Q3.
What roles can a coach play in mental preparation during the warm up?
Correct answer: ask performers to visualise how certain skills, techniques or plays should look
Correct answer: using positive talk to help lower stress levels
ensure muscles are sufficiently warm and joints are mobilised
Correct answer: remind performers of their goal and what they are working towards
Q4.
Mental rehearsal is a technique in which the performer themselves performing the skill perfectly.
Correct Answer: pictures, imagines, sees
Q5.
Match the benefit of mental rehearsal to the impact on performance.
Correct Answer:block out the crowd,reduces the noise and allows the perfomer to focus
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reduces the noise and allows the perfomer to focus

Correct Answer:increases confidence to succeed,performer approaches the task ready to perform successfully
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performer approaches the task ready to perform successfully

Correct Answer:reduces stress levels,limits the negative impact of anxiety such as muscles tightening up
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limits the negative impact of anxiety such as muscles tightening up

Correct Answer:familiarisation with what is required,reminds the performer what an effective performance/technique is
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reminds the performer what an effective performance/technique is

Q6.
Which of these is not a benefit of mental rehearsal?
increased confidence
reduced stress and anxiety
Correct answer: physically ready to perform
getting 'in the zone'
familiarisation with the skill