Sport psychology covers various aspects of athlete treatment and wellness. The final project addresses the performance of sport psychology in the context of Paul George. Enhancing the performance of Paul George entails the direct application of various psychological aspects aimed at boosting both his emotional, mental, and physical wellness. Key psychological concepts to be addressed include stress, recouping the injury, physical fitness, and guiding him on how to enjoy sports. The psychological view and response to Paul George’s injury are crucial because it will foster his performance in sport and bring him back to track.
I. Case Introduction
The final project addresses Paul George’s injury. Paul George is a 30-year-old male American professional basketball player (TFP, 2020). He has registered consistent, incredible strides and achievements in the sports sector over the past few years. Fully known as Paul Clifton Anthony George, Paul George is an arguable an incredible and one of the best players in the NBA. He continues to dazzle the world with exploits besides being a one-time multiple NBA and Olympian star. Paul George currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder. George’s career started from childhood and proceeded through high school and college, before gaining momentary in 2010 in Indiana Pacers.
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Paul George was born on May 2, 1990, in California, US. His parents were Paulette George and Paul George Sr. George grew up alongside two sisters named Teiosha and Portala, who engaged in sporting activities just like him. George spent most of his childhood playing basketball against his elder sister Teiosha or alone in the park. He played for the varsity basketball team while at Knight High School under his coach, Tom Herge. He later played for Pump and Run. George began his play season as a sophomore on the JV team before joining the varsity team. His appointment started after completing the AAU tournaments in 2017 when recruiters started noticing him. He led the Knight Basketball team to the Golden League championship during the 2007/8 season, where he was also named Golden League Most Valuable Player. His senior career ended with 11.2 rebounds and 23.2 points. Despite these achievements, colleges did not consider George a significant prospect. He was labeled a three-star player by the Rivals.com and ranked 20 th . However, commitment and practice perfected him to becoming the most entertaining basketball player in the West Region by 2010. Unfortunately, his medical concerns started the same year when he sprained the right ankle, missed the next three games before returning on February 11, and led his team to a 30-point victory over New Mexico State.
George’s current issues regarding his or her athletic performance include personal and anxiety disorders. However, these issues have affected him slightly, though, with constant influence due to his injury. George sometimes gets overwhelmed and emotional during competitions. Following the subsequent injuries, he is always careful and fearful to tolerate direct attacks from opponents, making him release the ball early. Equally, his excessive use of force and marvelous commitment is related to personality disorder, which leads him to periodic injuries. As a result, he misses some of the crucial matches in the league and other competitions. George's primary issue is his injury, which has impacted his performance negatively this season. George has incurred severe hamstring injury, with the last one resulting in three-plus weeks sitting in January 2020. The nature of the injury could be severe and could see him out of consideration for a long time. Generally, the injuries have lowered his performance significantly since 2017. He has then incurred more than thirteen injuries since 2017, including shoulder, ankle, knee, and sore groin for a better part of 2017.
II. Evaluation
George's personality is majorly progressive and inspirational. However, the urge to progress ad inspire the audience makes him use a lot of force on the pitch, which mounts into injuries. He also experiences personality disorders such as extraversion and narcissism, which lowers is a general performance with a considerable margin. George often experiences misperception of comments and affective instability during the match. These experiences lower his performance and stagnate his starts, thereby delaying future records and appointments. However, the extent of these issues at play in his performance problems is relatively low.
Antisocial behaviors among teammates are the primary motivation issue at play, affecting George’s performance. George had complained of experiencing social issues with two of his teammates. Precisely, he claimed that the players are selfish with the ball and are not helping him score as he would. Individuals who do not like the success of other people depict antisocial behaviors. He often disagrees with teammates about the right athlete to take a short. For example, during the 109-108 Game, George complained when C.J Miles took the final shot. With more than 14 potential go-ahead baskets in the final, George believed that the ball could have been passed to him to make the final short. This situation ruined his relationship with teammate Miles hence, lowering his performance. Hence, motivational issues affect the performance of George by a significant margin.
Biopsychology is minimal at play in the athlete’s performance problems. Despite the belief that his teammates, Miles, deny him scoring opportunities, he can control his nervous system, brain, and social behaviors. He is always determined to ensure the firmness of the team. For example, he said to the media that ignorance should not make people think that he has a poor relationship with his teammates. George outshines biopsychology issues by being close to his teammates and encouraging them to win the championship and the series.
Other aspects of psychological theories, such as social cognitive theory (SCT), influence George's performance. With no addiction history and psychological disorders such as mental issues, he balances the functionality of his brain and social behavior by ensuring that his behaviors and actions do not jeopardize the relationship with teammates ( Rana & Dwivedi, 2015). George believes so much in teamwork and motivates them to work hard and win every bit of the competition.
III. Plan of Action
The case examination of George's injury reveals that his performance in sports is majorly lowered by personal and anxiety disorders. In this regard, George's performance can be improved by managing these disorders. However, managing personal disorders and anxiety is difficult to manage. George is also likely to face difficulties relating to a counselor due to his fame and financial well-being. However, crucial steps can be taken to improve his condition and performance in sports. George can help to manage his symptoms through a long-term treatment plan. Symptoms and therapy is the most recommendable approach to improving the symptoms of personality disorder and anxiety (Pojednic et al., 2017). Hence, finding a counselor with whom George can enjoy good relationships is critical as far as improving his performance. Most fundamentally, assigning a counselor with specialized training in behavioral therapy will improve George's personality. Medicine can also help in improving emotional experiences (Pojednic et al., 2017). Hence, medicines such as mood stabilizers alongside therapy or counseling can also manage some of George's psychological symptoms. Last yet important, healthy habits such as avoiding alcohol and substance abuse entirely and regular exercise can improve his injury condition (Surya et al., 2015). It can also leverage stress and anxiety, among other psychological issues.
Motivational theories that could be utilized to improve George's performance are the sandwich theory and the theory of vitality. The sandwich approach can help in motivating George and his teammates without altering inclusion, pride, or enjoyment. George can utilize this theory by contributing to establishing a stable relationship with team members. Also, while criticizing other players, it is essential to sandwich their needs with positive reinforcement. Hence, it is evident that this theory can foster necessary efforts to improve their perforce since their intrinsic or extrinsic needs are met.
An active recovery plan is recommendable as the most suitable strategy to help George regain his elite status. George's recovery plan could take at most 30 minutes because he is an active player with potential talent. In this regard, a 40-minute running at about 60% of his usual pace is recommendable. Strelzik & Langdon (2017) states that an active recovery plan may also proceed during interval training. However, its application during an interval training session is relatively unique, as George will be required to maintain physical activity, though at a lower intensity. According to the Consensus Statement-2016 Update (2017), the active recovery plan is systematic. It may include low and moderate-intensity exercises such as shoulder stretching, light runs, jogging, deep lunges, high-knee marching, and step touches.
IV. Implications
The plan of action, active recovery, applies to an “average” athlete struggling with a similar problem by a higher degree. Besides physical benefits, active recovery also helps athletes with emotional issues by improving their heart rates (Podlog et al., 2013). Pursuing active recovery on an interval basis or immediately after exercise makes the blood lactate level to lesson quickly ( Consensus Statement-2016 Update , 2017). Engaging in active recovery facilitates the restoration of the body's resting state, regulating the body's emotional condition. Hence, other athletes with the same problems as George can enjoy more strength and improve sporting performance. Most fundamentally, active recovery focuses on improving the entire form of the athlete (Strelzik & Langdon, 2017). Active recovery is generally less demanding than the usual workout; hence, it effectively applies among players with varying social and physical issues (Podlog et al., 2013). Various athletes can engage in active recovery techniques based on their regular training pace.
George's psychological problem and plan of action related to other human endeavors outside of athletic competition, such as dancing. Just like in athletics, a member or members of a dancing team may face physical and physiological issues that may require an active recovery plan ( Surya et al., 2015) . For example, one member of the West Virginia's Premier Dance team may make a dangerous move and incur wait or leg injury just as George. While such injury might not be severe as George's, active recovery may help the dancer regain his elite status ( Forsdyke, 2014). Equally, dancers might also have personality disorders, which may require counseling and therapy as management or part of the recovery plan.
Conclusion
To sum up, sport psychology is a crucial concept as it discloses psychologies issues. Key concepts covered in sport psychology include personality disorders, stress, and anxiety. The final project examples Paul George's injury under the context of sport psychology. The 30-year old American basketballer has registered an impressive performance since his childhood, winning many matches in both championship and local games. However, his series of 13 injuries that started with a short illness in 2017 has lowered his performance. He also suffers from psychological issues such as personality disorder and anxiety. However, George can be helped to regain his elite status through an active recovery plan. An action plan is suitable for other individuals in other endeavors outside sports because it matches various lifestyles and living conditions.
References
Consensus Statement-2016 Update. (2017). Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 49(5), 1043-1054.
Forsdyke, D. (2014). Risk, Response, and Recovery. Psychological of Sports Injuries. Sport Ex Medicine , 59-10-15.
Podlog et al. (2013). An adolescent perspective on injury recovery and the return to sport. Psychology of Sport & Exercise , 14(4), 437-446
Pojednic, R. M., Polak, R., Arnstein, F., Kennedy, M. A., Bantham, A., & Phillips, E. M. (2017). Practice patterns, counseling, and promotion of physical activity by sports medicine physicians. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport , 20 (2), 123-127.
Rana, N. P., & Dwivedi, Y. K. (2015). Citizen's adoption of an e-government system: Validating extended social cognitive theory (SCT). Government Information Quarterly , 32 (2), 172-181.
Strelzik, J., & Langdon, R. (2017). The role of active recovery and "rest" after a concussion. Pediatric Annals , 46 (4), e139-e144.
Surya et al. (2015). The Influence of Injury on Group Interaction Processes . Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 27(1), 52-66.
TFP. (2020). Paul George. Famous People . https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/paul-george-41499.php
