What is sport psychology and which is an example of a mental skill used by athletes?

• A. The study of mental factors affecting performance; examples include goal setting, imagery and self-talk.
• B. Sport psychology is about physical training methods; examples include sprint intervals.
• C. Sport psychology studies nutrition; examples include hydration schedules.
• D. Sport psychology is about equipment design; examples include shoe cushioning.

Answer: (A)

Sport psychology focuses on how mental factors affect performance and how athletes can train their minds to improve. The best choice captures this by defining sport psychology as the study of mental factors that influence performance and by giving examples of mental skills—goal setting, imagery, and self-talk—that athletes use to manage focus, confidence, and motivation. Goal setting provides clear targets and a plan, imagery helps athletes rehearse skills and anticipate successful outcomes, and self-talk shapes their mindset to stay calm, focused, and determined during competition.

This area isn’t about physical training methods, nutrition schedules, or equipment design—those belong to other fields like physiology, nutrition science, or biomechanics. So, the definition and examples given align with what sport psychology is and the kinds of mental skills athletes employ.