The Role of Psychological Characteristics in Facilitating the Pathway to Elite Performance Part 2: Examining Environmental and Stage-Related Differences in Skills and Behaviors

Abstract

MacNamara, Button, & Collins (under review) proposed that if individuals are to fulfill their potential they must possess and systematically develop a specific set of skills (termed Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence or PCDEs) that allow them to interact effectively with the developmental opportunities they are afforded. Given the complexity of the developmental pathway, it may well be that different skills are needed at different stages of development and across different performance domains. Twenty-four elite participants from team sports, individual sports, and music were purposefully sampled from different domains and interviewed on their experiences of their own pathways to excellence. Results suggested that although PCDEs were important throughout development, the manner by which they were deployed depended on stage, domain, and the characteristics of the individual performer. These findings support proposals to systematically incorporate PCDEs into TID practices because these may be the key feature in maintaining progress toward excellence.

The Illusion of Competency Versus the Desirability of Expertise: Seeking a Common Standard for Support Professions in Sport

“…In short, the 'it depends on the context' outcomes of carefully considered critical reflection are often inherently at odds with the 'do it this way to pass' specificity of competency assessments; at least, how they are currently employed in many sports settings. In fact, the potential to focus on features of effective performance evolution (evaluating ongoing growth rather than just current competence) is already well-established in sport, with the characteristics of both the developing individual [38,39] and the optimum development environment [40,41] having been established, applied and successfully exploited. In the support practitioner domain, it is interesting to see that coaches think similar features apply to their own profession; indeed, an orientation to which they might aspire [42].…”

Categorising and defining popular psychological terms used within the youth athlete talent development literature: a systematic review

“…For example, the terms psychological characteristics, factors, qualities and attributes, as well as PCDEs (Table 1, column 1, terms 1-4 & 17) were all said to enable athletes' a) successful development, b) optimal athletic performance, c) manifestation of expertise, d) to fulfil their potential and e) to overcome inevitable hurdles of athletic development (e.g., Holland et al, 2010;Jooste et al, 2013;MacNamara et al, 2010a). In comparison, the terms psychological skills, processes, techniques, and methods, mental preparation, strategies and self-regulatory skills (Table 1, column 1, terms 7-12 & 15) were all described to regulate or enhance the development of the psychological components outlined above (e.g., Connaughton, Hanton, & Jones, 2010;Connaughton, Wadey, Hanton, & Jones, 2008;MacNamara et al, , 2010b. To illustrstrate, Woodcock et al (2011) outlined that mental techniques (e.g., self-talk) can regulate or enhance the level of psychological attributes or qualities (e.g., high or low levels of self-confidence).…”

“…Characteristics of Developing Excellence (PCDEs) 4 Jooste et al, 2013;MacNamara et al, (2010a);(2010b) Summary of key messages from within MacNamara et al, ( 2010a, b): • The ability to carry out complex patterns of behaviour that will lead to the achievement of a specific goal (Reber, 1995; • Its effective execution is dependent on practice and experience • It is a learned behaviour as opposed to it being innate or predisposed. • (cognitive skill) Learned techniques designed to change levels of anxiety, arousal, and attention using processes such as imagery …”

“…For example, MacNamara et al (2010b) and MacNamara and Collins (2011) outlined that athletes are predisposed to possess some psychological components, whereas others need to be systematically taught and practiced. Nevertheless, PCDEs "include both the trait characteristics (i.e., the tendency to…) and the state-deployed skills (i.e., the ability to...when…)" (MacNamara & Collins, 2013, p. 737), wherefore a precise distinction between the different categories cannot be made.…”

“…They are said to enable effective talent development by allowing athletes to negotiate the inevitable challenges of talent development (e.g., transitions), engage effectively with developmental opportunities (e.g., learning opportunities), and by providing individuals with competencies to fulfil their potential (MacNamara et al, , 2010b. Well-developed psychological characteristics help athletes to stay committed and facilitate behaviours that underpin effective learning and development MacNamara et al, 2010aMacNamara et al, , 2010b. They are said to increase talented athletes' likelihood to develop into elites, whereas in the absence of these characteristics they are likely to fail at some stage of their development (MacNamara & Collins, 2011).…”