SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY: A REVIEW

Sports psychology, as the study of human behavior in the context of sport and physical activity, is one of the youngest sub disciplines in the field of sports science, as well as one of the youngest sub disciplines in the field of psychology. Sport Psychology Defined Sport psychology very simply, deals with the mental aspects of sport. It aims to improve both the sports performance and general well-being of the athlete, through the application of psychological principles and techniques. It has been defined most simply perhaps, as the science of psychology applied to sport. Development of Sport Psychology in North America Sport psychology in North America began with Coleman Griffith’s early work in the 1920s and then re- mained largely dormant until the 1960s and early 1970s when several organizations were formed that focused on the systematic study of psychological processes in sport. Self-Confidence Various terms such as “self-confidence,” “self-efficacy,” “perceived ability,” and “perceived competence” have been used to describe one’s perceived capability to accomplish a certain level of performance