The AS&K Sports MSD

The 10 Mental Skills: MASTERY APPROACH

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INTERPRETING THE MASTERY APPROACH SCORE ON THE MSA

Athletes with a high level of Mastery Approach gain satisfaction from knowing they are progressing in their competence and do not often compare themselves to others. Athletes with a strong Mastery Approach are more motivated by personal improvements in their skills and performance than by obtaining external rewards and recognition, nor are they motivated by being the best on the team or winning the admiration of coaches, parents, or friends. Instead they are motivated by experiencing real progress is their mastery of skills and knowledge needed to perform successfully. Athletes with a strong Mastery Approach are not very stressed by a setback as long as the setback results in improving skills and learning something new.

WHAT CAN INFLUENCE THE MASTERY APPROACH SCORE?

A strong Mastery Approach enhances Effort, Goal Setting and Goal Implementation, and Task Confidence and Mastery Approach enhance each other. Mastery Approach diminishes the negative aspects of low scores on Self-Worth. Mastery Approach is diminished by low scores on Personal Control and Open to Feedback.

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TIPS FOR ATHLETES

What is the evidence for and against the presence of a strong Mastery Approach? Is your MSA Mastery Approach score high or low? What are your Mastery Approach BITEs?

1. Make a list of your BITEs when you are thinking about what, beyond a win, you want to achieve in a game or competition or during the next week or two of practice and training.
2. When setting and working to achieve goals, it is better to have goals and be motivated by a desire for personal improvement – being better than you were yesterday – than by a desire to obtain, for example, external rewards and recognition.

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TIPS FOR COACHES

Do your athletes have a strong Mastery Approach? Are they motivated to improve their skills & knowledge or to be the best on the team? Are you a good role model for strong Mastery Approach?

1. As a coach, be aware of your own Mastery Approach. Do you tend to set goals and give performance feedback that focuses on an athlete’s specific behavior and personal improvement (a mastery approach) or do you compare athletes’ skills and performance to other athletes (a non-mastery approach)?
2. When formally setting goals with your athletes for games, competitions, practice, or training sessions, set mastery-oriented goals (see Goal Setting).

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TIPS FOR PARENTS

What motivates your athlete to improve his or her skills? What motivates your athlete to learn more about their knowledge and strategy about the game? Do you or your athlete tend to compare your athlete's performance to that of his or her teammates?

1. When speaking with your athlete use specific examples and factual information about improvements or lack of improvement in behavior compared to earlier examples. Include the athlete in the selection and identification of examples and factual information.
2. Discuss your athlete’s BITEs after games and competitions. He or she may be appraising or evaluating his or her performance on what others will say about his or her performance, especially what you as the parent will say or think.