Report example

About the test

In performance sports, athletes, parents, coaches, club leaders and sports federations ask themselves the following questions:

Sportsman: Deserve to sacrifice my childhood? Do I have everything I need to succeed?

Parent: Can my child perform in sports or better direct him to school? Can he do both just as well?

Coach: Is there any potential for this athlete to become a top performer? Do I choose him or another to train?

Club Leader or Sports Federation: Will I get results with this athlete or better invest in another?

Worldwide psychological studies and research have attempted to identify whether there are specific personality traits that make some athletes achieve outstanding performance. These common features, commonly called "CHAMPION PERSONALITY", were found to exist in both: athletes practicing individual sports and those who practice team sports.

It was highlighted that the more accurate predictor of success in high-performance sports is the PSYCHOLOGICAL (mental and emotional) level, rather than physical, technical and tactical.

How do we identify athletes with CHAMPION PERSONALITY ?

The SPORT PSY PROFILE psychological test battery performs a personality scan and can identify at this time all these markers of CHAMPION PERSONALITY.

SPORT PSY PROFILE is the result of a scientific research that lasted nearly 2 years and was made on 1000 athletes from individual and team sports.

SPORT PSY PROFILE measures the level of 17 dimensions and 5 psychological axes that from a scientific point of view correlate directly with the sport performance. Thus, we can now assess to what extent the athlete`s personality coincides with the ideal model of CHAMPION PERSONALITY.

SPORT PSY PROFILE resembles a set of complete medical analysis. These analysis can show physically at present what parameters are at a normal level and what parameters are deficient. In the same way, the SPORT PSY PROFILE battery offers a mental and emotional diagnosis which tells us at what level of development the 17 dimensions and 5 psychological axes are in relation to the ideal model of CHAMPION PERSONALITY.

This is the Diagnostic Function.

Starting from the SPORT PSY PROFILE evaluation, a sports psychologist can propose a PERSONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

This is the Development Function.

The specialist may, based on test results, make a long-term recommendation and prediction of the level at which the athlete can reach. This is a scientific prediction with a margin of error based on the assumption that the athlete will not radically change his behavior and does not do concrete things to improve or develop the personality aspects directly involved in achieving sports performance.

This is the Predictive Function.

In the case of a group of athletes or on the position competitors, it is possible to quickly differentiate between athletes when they have physical, technical or tactical similarities. The psychological plan can easily and efficiently differentiate those who may become CHAMPIONS or those who will remain regular athlets.

This is the Rating and Grading Function.

Champion personality

Worldwide psychological studies and research have attempted to identify if there are specific personality traits that make some athletes achieve outstanding performance. These common characteristics, namely called Champion Personality, were found at the athletes that practice either individual sports or team sports.

The SPORT PSY PROFILE battery measures 17 psychological dimensions directly associated with achieving high sport performance.

Below, each of these dimensions is defined and explained for a better understanding of what the PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE of CHAMPION PERSONALITY is.

HARMONIOUS PASSION

The passion for sport activity represent the interest of the athlete for practiced sport, which is important to him and in which he invests time and energy. By investing time and energy, the motivation mechanisms that achieve the goal are activated. The harmonious passion involves engaging the athlete in activities voluntarily, without being forced by anything or someone, resulting in the harmonization of activity with individual beliefs and identity. This passion is controlled by the individual and occurs when the athlete deliberately engages in sporting activity with pleasure. The harmonious passion for that sport is very well integrated into the lifestyle of the person and does not disturb other functional aspects (school, friends, family), but will positively redimension them.

OBSESSIVE PASSION

The passion for sport activity represent the interest of the athlete for practiced sport, which is important to him and in which he invests time and energy. By investing time and energy, the motivation mechanisms that achieve the goal are activated. The obsessive passion, though it is a controlled internalization, becomes very often dependent on other aspects associated with or resulting from the activity (social acceptance, personal valorisation, etc.). This type of passion, although associated with performance, is also related to negative effects that can lead to a decrease of the performance. For example, an individual who is very passionate about his activity, will only think about it. The fact that the athlete thinks obsessively about the sport practiced, he may risks becoming controlled by this obsessive passion that will generate negative effects, which in turn will affect his personal life.

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

Perfectionism is a disposition related to the personality, characterized as being a passage through a path that leads to high performances, as well as a tendency towards excessive self-criticism of personal or other behavior in case of mistakes. Perfectionism can be considered as an essential attribute for achieving high sporting performances, as well as an obstacle to succeed. The positive desire to be perfect is manifested by setting personal standards as high as possible, and by having great and demanding expectations from own performance.

IMPERFECTIONISM ADVERSITY

Perfectionism is a disposition related to the personality, characterized as being a passage through a path that leads to high performances, as well as a tendency towards excessive self-criticism of personal or other behavior in case of mistakes. Perfectionism can be considered as an essential attribute for achieving high sporting performances, as well as an obstacle to succeed. Adversity to imperfectionism often occurs during trainings and matches, when the athlete makes mistakes or fails to achieve his goals. It is associated with a very harsh personal criticism, somatization and behavioral disturbance. These may occur when are too many discrepancies between the athlete`s expectations and the result obtained.

MENTAL PREPARATION

The mental preparation of athletes refers to the strategies used by them to achieve a successful performance. Among these mental strategies used by athletes to achieve sport performance we find: mental imagery, anxiety control, positive personal speech or goals settings. When we say mental preparation, we are mostly referring to setting goals. This type of mental strategy is characterized by external or internal directives on the task. Mental preparation through goal setting leads to activation of athletes motivation for achieve the desired performance.

COMPETITIVE RESILIENCE

Resilience is a set of protective factors that change, alters or improves the person`s response to a challenge that predisposes to undesirable consequences. In sports, we can say that an athlete with a good level of resilience is able to cope with unforeseen and difficult conditions that may occur during a competition. This kind of resilience is a mechanism that has its roots in certain aspects of personality, such as self-esteem. Among the main aspects, in adversity conditions, from a good resilience of the athlete, we can enumerate the ability to return and continue in a positive manner after a failure or mistake.

WORRY

Often included in the state of anxiety, worry has become a concept independently studied by other dysfunctional states. An worried athlete has the tendency to have delayed decision. In sport, this concept expresses that state in wich the athlete feels when negative thoughts invade his mind during training or competition, causing a decrease in his performance.

FOCUS UNDER PRESSURE

Focusing is the ability to direct your attention on the tasks you have during training or competition, so you can reach to highest level of performance. Getting performance is often associated with the athlete ability to concentrate while is under pressure. There is the pressure of time, there is pressure inside the person or the pressure that comes from the outside. Pressure is any factor or combination of factors that amplify the importance of performing well. All these things only disturb the athlete`s focus on what is important. So, the ability to remain focused during the competition, on your own qualities and abilities, determines a channelling of the pressure felt to follow and achieve the desired goals.

COACHABILITY

Coachability is the open and receptive attitude of the athlete, combined with his ability to listen actively, to accept, understand and put into practice the suggestions and constructive criticisms of the professionals in his environment (coach, physician, psychologist, physical trainer, nutritionist, etc.), in order to improve his physical, technical, tactical and mental performance.

ADAPTABILITY

Adaptability is the ability to cope with changes in sports career or competition through adaptive mechanisms, such as malleability and decision-making. The way that the athlete adapts to the changes that occur in his life can direct the pathway of his career. A well-known fact is that athletes have to face a series of changes, like the coach, the team, the city or the country where he is playing or the style of the game that he has been used to play. Other changes that can arise and which we cannot control are temperature, opponent, the location of the competition, etc.

COHESION

In sport, cohesion is defined as a dynamic process through which the group remains united in seeking to achieve common goals or individual goals. A group, whatever it is, represents more people with their own aspirations, having different characters and personalities. Therefore it is essential for the success of any team that its members are anchored by the same goal and purpose. Cohesion of a team is a very important factor in sports performance.

LEADERSHIP

Defining leadership as a process of influencing individuals or groups with the purpose of reaching goals, we observe a difference between leadership as a process and the leader as a person. The athlete who is distinguished by a high leadership is the one who knows very well the group/team he is part of. But knowing the characteristics of the group is not enough. The leader needs to make the other teammates believe in his vision and become individuals who follow him with confidence. The leader is not a boss among colleagues, but rather a person who understands their needs and inspires the motivation and confidence that is needed to achieve the team`s goals.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

In sports, conscientiousness can best be explained by performing the tasks and respecting the training program. Trough conscientiousness we understand that the person has attributes such as good organization, responsibility, good planning and volitional aspects. Conscientiousness is associated with performance and career success. Athletes with a high level of consciousness assimilate more quickly the information received from a psychological, physical, tactical and technical point of view.

COGNITIVE ANXIETY

Anxiety is a condition characterized by psychological and physiological symptoms that occur when an athlete perceives a situation that can be dangerous. Cognitive anxiety is defined by the cognitive component that creates negative expectations and evaluations of the same type. For athletes, a high level of anxiety disfavors the achievement of the desired performance. At the mental level, may occur thoughts of failure or disappointment of important people (parents, friends, etc.). An athlete with a very high level of cognitive anxiety cannot reach his potential, and in the long run his health may be affected.

SOMATIC ANXIETY

Anxiety is a condition characterized by psychological and physiological symptoms that occur when an athlete perceives a situation that can be dangerous. Somatic anxiety consists of physiological and affective elements that develop directly through excitement in the autonomous system. At the somatic level, you may experience breathing problems, intense heartbeat or abnormal sweating. An athlete with a very high level of somatic anxiety cannot reach his potential, and in the long run his health may be affected.

SELF-EFFICACY

Self-efficacy has a major role in the development of an athlete and represents the personal judgment about the abilities and executions with the purpose to reach his goals. This dimension refers to a strong belief that the athlete can be successful in a certain task in the training or in the competition. Self-efficacy is considered to be a learning adjustment indicator that directly influences success obtained in various tasks. The importance of this concept is also given by its link to other important aspects of an athlete psyche. We can mention the link of self-efficacy with self-confidence, self-esteem or optimism. This association can lead to some performances and positive energy infusion, both in the mind and in the body, creating an optimal state for showing the athlete`s potential.

COMPETITIVE SPIRIT

By the spirit of competition is meant the desire to have the right opponents and to win in a manner that shows the superiority of the athlete in his activity. However, the competitiveness that goes to the extreme determines in some cases the decline of performance. A high level of competitive spirit leads to the activation of the athlete`s internal resources to achieve the desired success. Strong competition and difficult tasks in training and competitions are challenges that are real sources of motivation for the athlete.

CONTROL SCORE

In order to better control the honesty through which people respond to test questions, we chose to introduce a social desirability scale, called control score. People often tend to want to present themselves, by their answers, in the most favorable light. Through this scale, we check the level of confidence we can have in participants responses.

Figurative evaluation

The Figurative Evaluation shows the numerical score obtained for each dimension evaluated and also shows the inclusion of the dimensions in one of the five categories (Very Low, Low, Medium, High, Very High).

As can be seen in the chart below, for a better understanding on the results obtained, we have assigned one color to these evaluations, according to the legend. A simple look at the graphic can show us the preponderance of positive aspects to the negative or vice versa. It is also very easy to see in which dimensions the athlete has good and very good scores and the dimensions where the athlete has to work to improve his results.

SPP Index

The Sport Psy Profile index (ISPP) expresses the level of performance resulted from the evaluation of mental and emotional traits that correlate directly with the achievement of high performance results.

The Sport Psy Profile index shows accurately through a numerical value the internal psychological dynamics of the athlete resulted from the different degree of development of the different mental and emotional traits, the strengths and weaknesses, the presence or absence of performance axes, the mental or emotional configurations and the degree of sincerity.

The Sport Psy Profile (ISPP) performance index is a numeric indicator on a standardized calculation scale, based on a complex algorithm that accurately represents the score obtained by the athlete completing the Sport Psy Profile test battery, based on the psychological profile of the top sports performer, reaching a maximum of 100 points.

Fan evaluation

The goal of Fan Evaluation is to provide a complete graphical representation of the profile obtained.

So, it can be observed very quickly and precisely the inclusion of each dimension in one of the five categories (Very Low, Low, Medium, High, Very High) and the preponderance of the dimensions in the respective categories.

Descriptive evaluation

After an analyze made on the answers, was obtained a value level for each of the 17 evaluated psychological dimensions.

Below is the Descriptive Evaluation associated with each dimension, correlated with the score obtained.

It is important not only read the separate explanation of each dimension, but also the common logical thread that creates the whole picture of the present situation.

HARMONIOUS PASSION

Consists in involving the athlete in activities voluntarily without being forced by anything or someone, resulting in the harmonization of activity with individual beliefs and identity. This passion is controlled by the individual and occurs when the athlete deliberately engages in sporting activity, for pleasure.

From the point of view of the harmonious passion, the athlete understands and accepts both the pleasant and the less pleasant aspects (the training program, the training camp, the combining of the school and the sporting program, the differences with the coaches or the parents), yet he practice the sport with passion. The athlete with an high level of harmonious passion appreciates the sport he practices and sees him as an integral part of his life. Being captivated by what he does, the athlete can improve his long-term performance.

OBSESSIVE PASSION

Although it is a controlled internalization, becomes very often dependent on other aspects associated with or resulting from the activity (social acceptance, personal valuation, etc.).

Regarding the obsessive passion, the athlete is concerned with the sport he practice only to that extent in which he is present in the concrete activities (trainings, cantonaments). This means that when he perform this activity, the athlete is interested in what he does but once he has finished the training, his thoughts and behavior related to sport just stops. For a performance athlete this is important because all elements are inter-related. The way they organize their schedule, sleep management, nutrition, leisure time, all these have an impact on their performance. If the athlete wants to achieve high results he must devote himself to a greater extent to the sport he practice.

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

It is a personality disposition, characterized as being a passage through a path leading to high performance, as well as a tendency towards excessive self-criticism of personal or other behavior in case of mistakes.

Regarding the desire to be perfect, the athlete wants his performance to come close to perfection, but he does not trust that this can happen. He sets high goals for training and competitions, but see them as very difficult. With this kind of athletes, must working in developing their confidence in their own strengths and to increase their self-efficacy in their abilities. Otherwise it is possible for the athlete to have difficulty in achieving progress and in enhancing the acquired skills.

IMPERFECTIONISM ADVERSITY

Or the self-criticism perfectionism. It is associated with a very harsh personal criticism, somatization and behavioral disturbances. These may occur when there are too many discrepancies between the athlete`s expectations on what he has proposed and the result obtained.

Regarding this dimension, the results highlight a high level of adversity to imperfectionism. He`s not content when he does not have the expected success. He doesn`t like to leave things to the will of chance. He feels frustrated when he makes mistakes and is very critical of his performance. A mistake can cost him a whole workout. With this type of athletes it is important to work and integrate the mistake in a harmonious manner in their development. We consider perfectionism as an essential attribute for achieving high performance, but also an obstacle to personal success.

MENTAL PREPARATION

Mental training of athletes implies the strategies they use to achieve performance (mental imagery, anxiety control, positive personal discourse, or goal setting). In the SPORT PSY PROFILE test battery, mental conditioning mainly refers to setting the objectives.

Regarding the dimension of mental preparation, the results indicate a high level. Athletes with this level are connected to the importance of competition or training. They have a strategic plan, and goals setting follows a well established routine before the sporting event. Athletes with a high level in this dimension set their own goals and understand their importance in achieving performance. The high level of mental preparation dimension can be a good indicator of future performances.

COMPETITIVE RESILIENCE

Resilience is a set of protective factors that modify, alters or improves the person`s response to an environmental challenge that predisposes to undesirable consequences. In sports, competitive resilience is the ability to cope in unforeseen and difficult conditions that may occur during a competition.

From the point of view of competitive resilience, the scores of the athlete are very high. Competitive issues are considered by the athlete as uncontrollable events. The athlete`s focus remains on the important aspects that can be changed. The athlete knows very well what aspects he can control and the issues he can not control. For this type of athlete, problems can be seen as challenges that train even more his mind. For athletes who have a very high competitive resilience there is a likelihood that their performance will improve when they feel the pressure. This kind of athletes are those who love competition, challenges and competitions, which is likely to help them perform at a high level.

WORRY

The condition which the athlete feels when negative thoughts invade his mind during a training or competition, causing a decrease in his performance.

Regarding the worry dimension, the athlete with a high level is often concerned about what the people around him will say in the event of a mistake. The athlete often thinks not to be wrong and fails to keep in mind that the mistake is part of the learning process and the game. Because of these thoughts, fluctuations in the performance of the athlete may occur. If the worry becomes worse, it can also affect the things that he normally did easily and efficiently. When worries are at a high level, it will be very difficult for the athlete to reach his potential.

FOCUS UNDER PRESSURE

Ability to focus on tasks during training and competitions so the athlete can perform at the highest level.

The athlete with a high level of focus under pressure is the athlete who is overtake pressure most of the times. Its evolution is not significantly affected by the existing pressure. Athletes with a high level of this dimension can concentrate on the strategies needed to win a match, and when they encounter difficulties they will not let the pressure take control. They not think too much about possible failures and embrace the competition with open arms. This is an attitude that can improve sports performance.

COACHABILITY

It is the open and receptive attitude of the athlete, combined with his ability to actively listen, accept, understand and put into practice the suggestions and constructive criticism of the professionals in his field of activity in order to improve his performance.

The high score achieved in this dimension is that the athlete is receptive to criticism and instructions, being prepared to implement them without deviating from them. He recognize the skills of coaches and try to improve his performance with the advices he receives from them. This attitude promotes high performance.

ADAPTABILITY

It is the ability to cope with changes in sports career or competition through adaptive mechanisms such as malleability and decision-making.

A high score achieved in this dimension is the fact that the athlete has no problems adapting to new situations in his sporting life. Considers these changes to be inevitable and knows that he needs to adapt as well as possible. If there is a transfer to a new team, a new coach or an unexpected situation, its performance will not be affected. This dimension is very important, and can be considered one of the strongest predictors of performance in sports.

COHESION

It is a dynamic process through which the group remains united in seeking to achieve common goals or individual goals.

In terms of this dimension, the athlete who scores average appreciates being part of a group, but is not prepared and convinced that the interests of the group are above personal interests. For this type of athletes it is important to carry out a series of activities with the help of colleagues to strengthen their confidence and their relationships. Team cohesion favors high performance.

LEADERSHIP

It is a process of influencing individuals and groups to achieve a set of goals. The leader is not a boss among his sports colleagues, but rather a person who understands their needs and inspires the motivation and confidence that is needed to achieve the team`s goals.

As far as this dimension is concerned, a high score shows us an athlete demonstrating the desire to be the leader of the group. He is considered capable of assuming leadership responsibility. He knows the characteristics of the team, can motivate his colleagues and encourages them to get the best results. Athletes of this type are very involved in teamwork and when difficult moments appear, they are willing to take on an increased responsibility. The leader is not a boss among colleagues, but rather a person who understands their needs and inspires the motivation and confidence that is needed to achieve the team`s goals.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

Fulfillment of tasks and compliance with the training program. By conscientiousness we understand that the person has attributes such as good organization, responsibility, good planning and volitional aspects.

In terms of this dimension, the average score shows that the level of organization of the athlete is acceptable. The athlete succeeds in following a well-established plan, but when a failure occurs, it is likely to give up and diminish self-confidence. The athlete is able to implement expert advice until one point, but he can quickly move away from what he proposes when more difficult situations arise. In this situation, setting a higher goal can motivate the athlete to become more conscientious and responsible.

COGNITIVE ANXIETY

Is defined by the cognitive component that creates negative expectations and evaluations of the same type. At the mental level may occur thoughts of failure or disappoint important people (parents, friends, etc.).

Regarding this dimension, the high score obtained shows that the care of not to be mistaken is high for this athlete, and this is an issue that may harm the performance of the athlete. When the athlete thinks too often about the mistake or failure, his resources will be diminished, which means that his performance will also be affected. He doubts his ability to focus and achieving his set goals, attitudes that can only be counter-productive to the performance of an athlete. For athletes, a high level of anxiety disfavors the achievement of the desired performance.

SOMATIC ANXIETY

Somatic anxiety consists in physiological and affective elements that develop directly through excitement in the autonomous system. At the somatic level, may occur breathing problems, intense heartbeat or abnormal sweating.

Regarding this dimension, the high score may indicate an increased risk of injury as the importance of competition is higher. Athletes with high scores may experience muscle strain, sweating of the palms or the lack of relaxation at key times. Under these conditions, performance can no longer be as good. For the athletes with high scores in this dimension, it is important to learn some relaxation strategies and to investigate the cognitive aspects (ex: concerns) of anxiety. Keeping high scores at this dimension negatively affects the performance.

SELF-EFFICACY

It refers to a strong belief of the athlete that he can be successful in a certain task on the training or in the competition. Self-efficacy is correlated with other important aspects of an athlete`s psyche, such as self-confidence, self-esteem or optimism.

In terms of this dimension, a high score shows that the athlete feels capable of taking on new and difficult tasks, having confidence that he can solve them effectively. He trusts in his skills and believes he can achieve his goals both in training and in competitions. He persists for what he wants, even when he has difficulties. This behavior is desirable for an athlete who wants to achieve high results. Self-efficacy has a major impact on individual development and adaptation, so a high score can be a predictor of performance.

COMPETITIVE SPIRIT

It is the desire to have as many opponents as possible and to win in a manner that shows the superiority of the athlete in his activity. Strong competition and difficult tasks in training and competitions are challenges that are real sources of motivation for the athlete.

Regarding this dimension, the very high score obtained shows that the athlete is very motivated to win, motivated to the point where he would do anything to defeat his opponents. For him, competition is a fight. If the scores are very high for this dimension, it should pay attention to not make it counterproductive. When an athlete sees in anything a competition, he will no longer focus on the way he performs his strikes or actions, his only goal is to win. This attitude is very good during matches and competitions. During trainings, it is important for the athlete to attach importance to other aspects such as the correctness with which he performs the tasks and the way he breathes. Strong competition and difficult tasks in trainings and competitions are challenges that are real sources of motivation for the athlete. This dimension must be increased in the competitive times.

CONTROL SCORE

In order to better control the honesty with which people respond to our questionnaire, we choose to introduce a social desirability scale.

Congratulations! A low score obtained at the desirability scale shows that the athlete was very sincere in completing the test and was self-evaluating correctly and realistically, referring to the information he knew about him at that time.

PERFORMANCE AXES

Each dimension present in the SPORT PSY PROFILE test battery is treated separately and represent an important source of information. Correlation of several dimensions leads to the appearance of Performance Axes, which are, in fact, important strengths for the athlete.

The emergence of one or more Performance Axes is an extremely important indicator that the athlete has special configurations of psychological features that, if maintained and further developed, can become a true proponent in his sporting career.

Self-improvement axis: is formed out of following dimensions: Harmonious Passion, Obsessive Passion, Striving for Perfection, Imperfection Adversity.

Resistance axis: is formed out of following dimensions: Mental Preparation, Competition Resilience, Focus under Pressure, Adaptability.

Emotional axis: is formed out of following dimensions: Worry, Cognitive Anxiety, Somatic Anxiety.

Efficacy axis: is formed out of following dimensions: Coachability, Conscientiousness, Self-Efficacy, Competitive Spirit.

Team player axis: is formed out of following dimensions: Cohesion and Leadership.

Self-Improvement Axis occurs when there is a dynamic balance between how the athlete lives his passion for sport and attitude towards perfection.

This configuration shows that both the harmonious passion and the obsessive passion fit perfectly into the personality structure of the athlete, bringing him the immediate satisfaction of practicing the sport. This axis shows us that although passion has been absorbed by important people (family, friends), it has been internalized by the athlete and has become an engine of its actions. In performance sports, if does not exist a strong desire to be better, exceptional results can not be found. The athlete has managed to find the perfect balance between the management of inherent mistakes that occur in sports activity and his ongoing efforts to decrease his mistakes and become better. Self-improvement axis is thus a very beautiful blend between the fantastic energy of passion that feeds the athlete and his desire to be better in sport.

Although it may seem the key to success, this axis can not work independently of other psychological dimensions. For the development of a Champion`s Personality, the other dimensions must be at the optimum level.

Resistance Axis occurs when there is a balance between the athlete`s ability to adapt to specific conditions of error or failure, to general conditions such as coach, club, city change, and ability to cope with pressure inherent in sport performance, using mental and emotional control techniques.

We know that performance sports involve work and sacrifices, and those who perform are those who manage to cope with competitive pressures. This does not happen by itself, but is the result of intuitive or learned use of specific mental and emotional control techniques such as relaxation techniques, visual imagery, positive discourse with himself, setting of objectives. On the other hand, the research and the professional experience show that no matter how good the physical, technical and tactical abilities of the athlete would be, the process of adaptation to different environmental, human or natural conditions and the success of putting into reality situations in competitions of all the skills and knowledge it has, is essential in achieving performance.

Although we can consider this axis as a predictor of long-term performance, it can not function independently of other psychological dimensions. For the development of a Champion`s Personality, the other dimensions must be at the optimum level.

Efficacy Axis occurs when there is a balance and a harmonious blend between the the athlete`s ability to listen to the tips and feed-backs of the important people around him (coach, physician, psychologist, physical trainer, nutritionist, etc.) on the one hand , and on the other hand, the ability to mobilize alone and carry out actions in order to achieve his sports goals .

In order to be successful in sport, the athlete must first of all be open to the suggestions, requirements and feed-backs of the professional, giving him extra-value on the four levels of total training, physical, technical, tactical and psychological training (mentally and emotionally). This is doubled by the conscientiousness with which the athlete performs the tasks, the training program and by the self-efficacy with which he performs the necessary actions to achieve his goals. The athlete in which we find this efficiency axis has a high level of competition that allows him to activate personal resources at the optimum level and always needs challenges both in training and in matches and competitions. Normally, all of these features are combined into a very strong personality structure, which makes the athlete not avoid any challenge and he wants to be the best.

Although we regard this as a key to sport success, it can not work without the other features of the Champion`s Personality being at an optimal level of development.

The Team Player`s Axis appears mainly to athletes who practice team sports and represents a strong link between the cohesion factor and the leadership factor. Nevertheless, we can identify this axis in athletes who practice individual sports. The reason is that most of them are training with multidisciplinary teams.

Athletes with this axis have a high degree of emotional intelligence, manifested by a very profound and vast knowledge (intuitive or learned) of what human personality means. These are team players, who are very listened and respected in the group where they belong. They have indisputable leadership skills, not only to lead others to common goals, but also to listen, help, and support them to get the best out of them. It is desirable for this axis to be found in any athlete that practice team sports.

It is an important part in achieving sporting performance, but without the other features of the Champion`s Personality being at an optimum level, it can not predict and bring success.

Control score

The evaluation obtained as a result of completing this battery of psychological tests brings extraordinarily valuable information about your personality structure, corelate to those psychological dimensions that correlate directly with achieving superior sports performance, with the condition you were honest in your answers.

A performance athlete has the ability to accurately and realistically evaluate himself in terms of his actions that make him achieve performance, also in the results he has achieved.

We all tend to put ourselves in a better light when we are questioned. This has to do with self-esteem and our ability to assume our behaviors.

Social Desirability is a concept that shows us the people want to present themselves positively to others, and so fit into social norms. It is defined as "the need of subjects to obtain approval, rather by giving responses in an acceptable and appropriate manner in terms of social norms, rather than according to their personal values.

The graphic below shows a clear image of the level of sincerity and openness used by the athlete for self evaluation. This can be realized by using three criteria: The maximum score possible on that dimension, The score obtained by the athlete as a result of the evaluation and The real score.

The maximum score possible is obtained by adding up the numeric values corresponding to all the questions linked to each psychological dimension evaluated.

The score obtained by the athlete as a result of the evaluation represents the sum of the numeric values corresponding to the responses chosen for each question in the test.

The real score is the one that identifies the actual position of the athlete in comparison to the ideal image. This score is calculated through a formula enclosing both the maximum score and the score obtained as a result of the evaluation.

STRENGHTS and WEAKNESSES

A valid analysis of the results obtained involves a comparison between Strenghts and Weaknesses of the athlete. First, it is important to look at their numerical report, namely their preponderance in the obtained results. Secondly, which dimensions are found in each category.

Comparative analysis

The purpose of this analysis is to compare the scientific evaluation obtained by completing the SPORT PSY PROFILE psychological test battery, on the one hand, and the more or less subjective perceptions about the personality of the athlete, the coach, the parent, the colleague and the athlete towards himself, on the other one.

From this comparison we can obtain very important information about both: the realistic appreciation and the under-appreciation or overestimation of the athlete towards himself. Information about how the athlete it is perceived by parents, coaches, colleagues, is also extremely valuable and reflects more or less the way the athlete perceives himself, how he acts and how he perform his sport activity.

The results obtained from the Comparative Analysis constitute a very good starting point for the psychological counseling of the athlete in order to correlate and harmonize the information obtained from the evaluations. To make the transition to performance, the athlete must be able to extract the feed-back he needs from the important people around him (parents, coaches, colleagues, or other specialists).

HARMONIOUS PASSION

Consists in involving the athlete in activities voluntarily without being forced by anything or someone, resulting in the harmonization of activity with individual beliefs and identity. This passion is controlled by the individual and occurs when the athlete deliberately engages in sporting activity, for pleasure.

OBSESSIVE PASSION

Although it is a controlled internalization, becomes very often dependent on other aspects associated with or resulting from the activity (social acceptance, personal valuation, etc.).

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

It is a personality disposition, characterized as being a passage through a path leading to high performance, as well as a tendency towards excessive self-criticism of personal or other behavior in case of mistakes.

IMPERFECTIONISM ADVERSITY

Or the self-criticism perfectionism. It is associated with a very harsh personal criticism, somatization and behavioral disturbances. These may occur when there are too many discrepancies between the athlete`s expectations on what he has proposed and the result obtained.

MENTAL PREPARATION

Mental training of athletes implies the strategies they use to achieve performance (mental imagery, anxiety control, positive personal discourse, or goal setting). In the SPORT PSY PROFILE test battery, mental conditioning mainly refers to setting the objectives.

COMPETITIVE RESILIENCE

Resilience is a set of protective factors that modify, alters or improves the person`s response to an environmental challenge that predisposes to undesirable consequences. In sports, competitive resilience is the ability to cope in unforeseen and difficult conditions that may occur during a competition.

WORRY

The condition which the athlete feels when negative thoughts invade his mind during a training or competition, causing a decrease in his performance.

FOCUS UNDER PRESSURE

Ability to focus on tasks during training and competitions so the athlete can perform at the highest level.

COACHABILITY

It is the open and receptive attitude of the athlete, combined with his ability to actively listen, accept, understand and put into practice the suggestions and constructive criticism of the professionals in his field of activity in order to improve his performance.

ADAPTABILITY

It is the ability to cope with changes in sports career or competition through adaptive mechanisms such as malleability and decision-making.

COHESION

It is a dynamic process through which the group remains united in seeking to achieve common goals or individual goals.

LEADERSHIP

It is a process of influencing individuals and groups to achieve a set of goals. The leader is not a boss among his sports colleagues, but rather a person who understands their needs and inspires the motivation and confidence that is needed to achieve the team`s goals.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

Fulfillment of tasks and compliance with the training program. By conscientiousness we understand that the person has attributes such as good organization, responsibility, good planning and volitional aspects.

COGNITIVE ANXIETY

Is defined by the cognitive component that creates negative expectations and evaluations of the same type. At the mental level may occur thoughts of failure or disappoint important people (parents, friends, etc.).

SOMATIC ANXIETY

Somatic anxiety consists in physiological and affective elements that develop directly through excitement in the autonomous system. At the somatic level, may occur breathing problems, intense heartbeat or abnormal sweating.

SELF-EFFICACY

It refers to a strong belief of the athlete that he can be successful in a certain task on the training or in the competition. Self-efficacy is correlated with other important aspects of an athlete`s psyche, such as self-confidence, self-esteem or optimism.

COMPETITIVE SPIRIT

It is the desire to have as many opponents as possible and to win in a manner that shows the superiority of the athlete in his activity. Strong competition and difficult tasks in training and competitions are challenges that are real sources of motivation for the athlete.

CONTROL SCORE

In order to better control the honesty with which people respond to our questionnaire, we choose to introduce a social desirability scale.

Statistical Analysis

The process of comparison with others is one of the most important learning processes.

Through the Comparative Statistical Analysis below we can see, for each psychological dimension in part, where the athlete is, compared to the other athletes who have been evaluated.

For an athlete, it is an awareness of his own value, which can give him confidence, when results are better than others, or raise questions and give him directions, when results are worse than others.

HARMONIOUS PASSION

Score: 33, better than 88.75% of respondents.

88.75%

OBSESSIVE PASSION

Score: 27, better than 81.25% of respondents.

81.25%

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

Score: 27, better than 80.00% of respondents.

80.00%

IMPERFECTIONISM ADVERSITY

Score: 27, better than 91.25% of respondents.

91.25%

MENTAL PREPARATION

Score: 17, better than 77.50% of respondents.

77.50%

COMPETITIVE RESILIENCE

Score: 19, better than 85.00% of respondents.

85.00%

WORRY

Score: 13, better than 28.75% of respondents.

28.75%

FOCUS UNDER PRESSURE

Score: 14, better than 70.00% of respondents.

70.00%

COACHABILITY

Score: 11, better than 68.75% of respondents.

68.75%

ADAPTABILITY

Score: 11, better than 77.50% of respondents.

77.50%

COHESION

Score: 34, better than 82.50% of respondents.

82.50%

LEADERSHIP

Score: 17, better than 71.25% of respondents.

71.25%

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

Score: 17, better than 77.50% of respondents.

77.50%

COGNITIVE ANXIETY

Score: 24, better than 15% of respondents.

15%

SOMATIC ANXIETY

Score: 25, better than 25% of respondents.

25%

SELF-EFFICACY

Score: 19, better than 86.25% of respondents.

86.25%

COMPETITIVE SPIRIT

Score: 15, better than 85.00% of respondents.

85.00%

Recommendations

After passing through all aspects of the evaluation, a clear idea about the Personality Profile of the Athlete is outlined.

Now is the moment to move on to the action.

Even if the instinctive tendency is to work especially on the less developed or less functional aspects, our suggestion is that the athlete should first concentrate on aspects that are high and very high, because these aspects are the stone of the foundation of the athlete`s results so far. They give the athlete satisfaction, he makes them well and with pleasure, and in these conditions they must be further developed until the athlete has attained a level of mastery.

For this, it is important for the athlete to be aware of the factors that help him to have certain features at a high level, which are the mechanisms to support these qualities. Starting from this personal analysis, the next step is to use the factors, that helped him to have those qualities, in less developed areas as well.

To support this process, below are suggestions for work that can help the athlete achieve the desired performance.

OBSESSIVE PASSION

This is the essence of sport: To go to your own limits and see if you are capable to go beyond them - Pascal Bruckner

Perhaps the most important factor in achieving high sports performance is passion. Passion is that energy that helps you overcome the inherent obstacles in sport activity and which brings satisfaction trough itself by practicing that sport. This energy can be increased in several ways. First of all, it must be identified if this low level is caused by an actual lack of passion or a lack of feedback and support from coaches, or too much pressure from parents. In this case, by regulating these relationships, is produced a beneficial effect. Secondly, increasing the passion for that sport can be achieved through passive (as a spectator) or active (as a player) participation in other sports. Also, additional individual training can increase interest in practicing sports by discovering new ways to make things better.

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

The most important thing is to compete against you. All that matters is the desire of perfection, the desire of being better than you have been yesterday - Steve Young

Although we want to perform our tasks very well and eliminate errors, the mistake it is precisely the way in which perfection is attained. A very good exercise in this regard is the identification of two things learned from a mistake, and this exercise must be repeated with consistency until the athlete forms a new way of thinking about mistakes.

WORRY

Worry is a negative state of mind which causes anxiety, suffering and constraints. It`s working slowly and persistent until it completely destroys your self-esteem, initiative and the faculty of your reasoning - Herbert Harris

Reducing the level of worry can be achieved by learning some techniques of thinking monitoring and emotional self-regulation. It is very important to establish and clarify the expectations of parents and coaches about the performance of the athlete, as well as setting process goals, not just about the result, so as to reduce his concerns.

COHESION

Talent wins matches, but team work and intelligence win championships - Michael Jordan

To increase cohesion, the athlete must understand that he can not succeed by himself, whether he is practicing a team sport or an individual sport. Establishing good relationships within the group is often the way to personal success. The fact that the athlete is not yet integrated and valued in his group, however difficult it may be, must make him take actual steps in this direction. The starting point should be at least one person in the group whom the athlete feels the closest. Starting from common interests and passions, exchanges of information, participation in extra-sport activities, the athlete must try to develop other relationships with the members of the group.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

The price of success is hard work, dedication in practices and determination. Even if we will win or lose, we will know that we have given our best to succeed - Vince Lombardi

Increased consciousness can be achieved both: during training and at home through various tasks. These can be established together with the psychologist, and their difficulty has to gradually increase. Parents and coaches should distribute a series of tasks, initially easy to accomplish by himself. Once these tasks have been achieved, the behavior of the athlete, both in training and at home, must be reinforced by praise or rewards negotiated with the athlete. This type of behavior must be repeated until the athlete internalizes this aspect in his personality profile. Once the behavior becomes automated, more complex tasks are carried out and reinforcements are gradually reduced. Introducing a plan of daily activities that guide the activity of the athlete, as well as using reminders to remember of what he has to do, are also two tools that can increase conscientiousness.

COGNITIVE ANXIETY

States and emotions are the vehicles used by the saboteur in you - on your negative side - to create discouragement, mistrust, doubt, indecision, anxiety. This saboteur is neutralized by controlling thoughts to that level in which you become the master of your emotions, instincts and body - Herbert Harris

The level of anxiety can be reduced by learning some strategies for thoughts monitoring and emotional regulation strategies. We also recommend the use of a journal to note and follow the athlete`s thoughts, emotions and sensations at times when he feels anxious, issues that can be discussed and solved in individual meetings with the sports psychologist. It is absolutely necessary to respect an adequate sleep program. Often, a few moments of mental relaxation or the use of breathing techniques before a competition can significantly reduce anxiety.

SOMATIC ANXIETY

Anxiety is kind of an opposite of the ego. You are so sure that you will do everything wrong therefore you are afraid to do anything - Robert M. Pirsig

The level of anxiety can be reduced by learning some strategies for thoughts monitoring and emotional regulation strategies. We also recommend the use of a journal to note and follow the athlete`s thoughts, emotions and sensations at times when he feels anxious, issues that can be discussed and solved in individual meetings with the sports psychologist. It is absolutely necessary to respect an adequate sleep program. Often, a few moments of mental relaxation or the use of breathing techniques before a competition can significantly reduce anxiety.

General recommendations

Whatever the results of the evaluation are, it is important for the athlete to have a Personalized Plan of Psychological Development. This can be done under the guidance of the sports psychologist through individual mental-coaching meetings (face-to-face or Skype).

The development of Attention Skills (Distributed Attention and Focused Attention), Thinking (Decision-Making Strategies and Problem Solving), Memory (Photographic Memory and Associative Memory), Mental Creativity and Flexibility, absolutely necessary in performance sports, can be achieved through a continuous and coherent mental training program.

The technique of positive affirmations is used by many elite athletes in daily training and during competitions. A positive statement may be a simple word or phrase that ignites the flame of motivation in the athlete`s self. Choosing one or more positive affirmations, repeated every day, can greatly increase self-confidence. The act of repeating reduces the pulse of the athlete and helps his mind to focus better.

To understand, assimilate and deepen all of these psychological concepts, we recommend, in addition to individual meetings, the participation in thematic workshops, watching sports-related films, as well as reading the written or video materials we publish on our site.