The knowledge of sports

To establish an advanced psychological training program, it is essential to understand the typical psychological implications of a specific sport discipline. In general terms, it can be stated that sports that are predominantly tactical and situational, as well as precision sports, require lower levels of activation compared to those characterized by power and speed, which demand high levels of activation. However, this is not valid for all sports; for example, rugby, a team sport, requires particularly high levels of activation.

When analyzing different groups of sports, it can be stated that:

Endurance sports (e.g., long-distance running, marathon, race walking, road cycling, rowing, canoeing, windsurfing, swimming, cross-country skiing) require the ability to tolerate and manage physical fatigue during competition. They necessitate a strong awareness of bodily sensations to recognize and anticipate critical moments in the race.
Precision sports (e.g., archery, clay shooting, target shooting, golf, billiards, curling, bocce) require a combination of technical precision and speed, meaning concentration must be entirely focused on execution. These sports require intermediate or low activation levels, to the extent that heart rate decreases before executing a shot, and athletes perform in a semi-apnea state. In these disciplines, the only way to recover from a mistake is to wait for opponents to make errors.
Sports involving body coordination in space (e.g., artistic gymnastics, figure skating, dance, synchronized swimming, diving, slalom skiing, giant slalom, snowboarding, free climbing) aim for an ideal execution, although athletes acknowledge that achieving perfection is nearly impossible. Even minor errors can lower performance quality and the score given by the judges.
Short-duration sports (e.g., 100m and 200m sprints, relays, 400m, swimming, jumps, throws, ski jumping, weightlifting) require total concentration for the entire event duration. The ability to effectively manage impulsiveness and avoid premature reactions at the starting signal is crucial.
Combat sports (e.g., fencing, boxing, martial arts, wrestling) demand a high level of mental and physical reactivity throughout the fight. The ability to anticipate the opponent’s moves is highly important. Due to the short duration of the matches, it is essential for athletes to feel engaged and perform effectively from the very first moments of the fight.
Team sports (e.g., soccer, volleyball, basketball, handball, water polo, rugby, hockey, American football, baseball) require the development of tactical thinking within a collaborative team environment, with moderate activation levels.
Individual opposition sports with a tactical focus (e.g., tennis, table tennis, badminton) require the development of tactical thinking tailored to the athlete’s personal skills and the opponent’s characteristics. These sports demand high activation levels due to the high number of exchanges and the fast pace of play.