Sports Psychology Case Study from Dr. Chris Stankovich
This case study is written in the words of Dr. Chris Stankovich to give students a better understanding of Sports Psychology. Also, since I am not a sports psychologist, the language used by Dr. Stankovich is more rich and relative to the field than what I could create. However, below the tasks and questions will be that of my own. Please read below for the case study.
Case Study: "Recently I [Dr. Chris Stankovich] spoke with an elite-level athlete that I have known for many years about his thoughts on how much of his success to date was attributed to natural talent versus “heart” and hard work. Having always been the best player on his team growing up, I wondered how much of his success came because of being a “genetic lottery winner” versus his dire passion to succeed and be the very best. Interestingly, he was very honest with his answer and responded by saying that while he has always been one of the best players, his success was largely due to his God-given size, speed, strength and other related athletic gifts. In fact, because of our personal relationship, he was very honest and even revealed to me that he really never loved playing his sport, but he did it because he was good at it and he knew it would likely open some future doors (like a college scholarship).
Many people falsely assume that elite-level athletes all love their sport, and think about it all day, every day. While that might be true for some, there are others (like the example above) who learn early in life that they are pretty good at a sport, even if it isn’t what they love (or even enjoy) doing. As you might imagine, this can be especially frustrating for coaches (and parents, too)! All of this leaves me with the sport psychology question of whether others (i.e. coaches, parents) can instill drive, passion, mental toughness, and motivation into an athlete, who while athletically talented, doesn’t really love the sport?
I think most of us make the innocent mistake of assuming if someone is really good at something, they must also love (or at least like) doing it. The truth is this is not always the case. But how malleable are our personalities, and can we be encouraged and persuaded to eventually come to love what we are good at doing?
In sports, sheer athleticism will only take an athlete so far, as it is the combination of superior natural talent and a strong work ethic that allows athletes to advance to the college and professional sport levels. Without both (as well as some luck), even really good athletes will come to learn that it likely won’t be enough to continue on with a career in sports.
What do you think? Can you generate passion and conviction, or does it have to be there from the start" (Stankovich, 2012)?
Task 1: After reading the case study by Dr. Stankovich, write your thoughts in a one or two page paper. Describe your assumptions about people playing sports and their motivation to do so (passion like internal motivation vs necessity for money or school scholarship). Also, assess what you would ask the client if you were the sports psychologist doing the interview.
Task 2: Critique the approach of the sports psychologist in helping the client. Also, discuss your thoughts on the commentary from Dr. Stankovich. What does Dr. Stankovich do well? What techniques do you think he should use with this client in the future, if any? If you were the sports psychologist, what would you tell the client about his playing sports but not really having a passion for it?
Task 3: Write down your thoughts from task 2 in one or two paragraphs. In critiquing this case study, think about your own life as well. Do you relate to this story in pursuing something because of skills and not interest? If so explain this issue. If not, then tell your thoughts on how one's life is affected when they are living out of necessity or opportunity instead of by their passions/goals.
Task 4: Talk about this case with someone you know. Ask them about their thoughts on the case. Compare their thoughts with yours. Are their many differences or similarities in opinion?
For students interested in Sports Psychology, visit the following sites for more information:
http://blog.drstankovich.com/sport-psychology-case-study-athletic-talent-heart/#
www.appliedsportpsych.org
www.apadivisions.org/division-47
Reference
Stankovich, C. (2012). Sport Psychology Case Study: Athletic Talent & "Heart." Retrived from http://blog.drstankovich.com/sport-psychology-case-study-athletic-talent-heart/#
Case Study: "Recently I [Dr. Chris Stankovich] spoke with an elite-level athlete that I have known for many years about his thoughts on how much of his success to date was attributed to natural talent versus “heart” and hard work. Having always been the best player on his team growing up, I wondered how much of his success came because of being a “genetic lottery winner” versus his dire passion to succeed and be the very best. Interestingly, he was very honest with his answer and responded by saying that while he has always been one of the best players, his success was largely due to his God-given size, speed, strength and other related athletic gifts. In fact, because of our personal relationship, he was very honest and even revealed to me that he really never loved playing his sport, but he did it because he was good at it and he knew it would likely open some future doors (like a college scholarship).
Many people falsely assume that elite-level athletes all love their sport, and think about it all day, every day. While that might be true for some, there are others (like the example above) who learn early in life that they are pretty good at a sport, even if it isn’t what they love (or even enjoy) doing. As you might imagine, this can be especially frustrating for coaches (and parents, too)! All of this leaves me with the sport psychology question of whether others (i.e. coaches, parents) can instill drive, passion, mental toughness, and motivation into an athlete, who while athletically talented, doesn’t really love the sport?
I think most of us make the innocent mistake of assuming if someone is really good at something, they must also love (or at least like) doing it. The truth is this is not always the case. But how malleable are our personalities, and can we be encouraged and persuaded to eventually come to love what we are good at doing?
In sports, sheer athleticism will only take an athlete so far, as it is the combination of superior natural talent and a strong work ethic that allows athletes to advance to the college and professional sport levels. Without both (as well as some luck), even really good athletes will come to learn that it likely won’t be enough to continue on with a career in sports.
What do you think? Can you generate passion and conviction, or does it have to be there from the start" (Stankovich, 2012)?
Task 1: After reading the case study by Dr. Stankovich, write your thoughts in a one or two page paper. Describe your assumptions about people playing sports and their motivation to do so (passion like internal motivation vs necessity for money or school scholarship). Also, assess what you would ask the client if you were the sports psychologist doing the interview.
Task 2: Critique the approach of the sports psychologist in helping the client. Also, discuss your thoughts on the commentary from Dr. Stankovich. What does Dr. Stankovich do well? What techniques do you think he should use with this client in the future, if any? If you were the sports psychologist, what would you tell the client about his playing sports but not really having a passion for it?
Task 3: Write down your thoughts from task 2 in one or two paragraphs. In critiquing this case study, think about your own life as well. Do you relate to this story in pursuing something because of skills and not interest? If so explain this issue. If not, then tell your thoughts on how one's life is affected when they are living out of necessity or opportunity instead of by their passions/goals.
Task 4: Talk about this case with someone you know. Ask them about their thoughts on the case. Compare their thoughts with yours. Are their many differences or similarities in opinion?
For students interested in Sports Psychology, visit the following sites for more information:
http://blog.drstankovich.com/sport-psychology-case-study-athletic-talent-heart/#
www.appliedsportpsych.org
www.apadivisions.org/division-47
Reference
Stankovich, C. (2012). Sport Psychology Case Study: Athletic Talent & "Heart." Retrived from http://blog.drstankovich.com/sport-psychology-case-study-athletic-talent-heart/#
