Before any advice is given to the athlete,
a few questions should be asked to 1) gain further information
and 2) build a rapport with the athlete. These questions would
inquire of their athletic history, goals, past experiences with
sport psychology techniques, past experiences regarding refocusing,
what do they mean when they mean by "zone", insights
to what they think the problem is, what they've tried to do to
remedy the problem.
After listening to these concerns, the sports psychologist
may ask the athlete to describe the feeling they had when they
were in their "zone". The sports psychologist could
reflect on what the athlete has said or ask the athlete to clarify
certain details of what they have described so the sports psychologist
can 1) gain understanding of the athlete's problem 2) have the
athlete review this feelings 3) assures the athlete the sports
psychologists have understood what was expressed.
Next, the sports psychologist could ask the athlete to explain
what they feel is the problem. The sports psychologist may ask
the athlete how they feel when performing. Again, the sports
psychologist can reflect and comment so the sports psychologist
may have a better understanding of their problem. At this point,
sports psychologist would ask the athlete specifically if they
feel their problem may be "such and such", depending
on the information the athlete has shared. After the sports psychologist
and the athlete have discussed the possible causes of the problem,
the sports psychologist should follow up by asking the athlete
what they think the appropriate steps are in combating their
problem. This may be facilitated by asking the athlete to recall
what steps had or had not worked in the past in similar circumstances.
It is best if the athlete could formulate an opinion of his
own. As a consultant, the sports psychologist would attempt to
guide the athlete to plausible and practical solutions. These
solutions may incorporate mental exercises or certain rituals
depending on the suspected problem. The athlete may have to learn
how to refocus on doing their job, the process of performing.
The athlete must be encouraged to shift the focus away from
winning and toward doing their best. The athlete must learn to
deal with expectations of themselves and others. Perhaps
the athlete has demands placed on him from coach, family, teammates,
friends, or fans. Perhaps the athlete will benefit from visualization
of successful performances, arousal control through relaxation,
self talk, or further counseling. The possibilities are numerous.
It is important to leave many of the decisions up to the athlete.
The sports psychologist can act as a catalyst by: