Vealey’s model of Sports Confidence and Bandura’s model of Self-Efficacy
Teaching the sports confidence topic to A level Physical Education students is always enjoyable and it is lovely to see students relating their own personal experiences to Vealey’s model of Sports Confidence and Bandura’s model of self-efficacy.
However, whilst these two models are prominent in our teaching of sports confidence, a reflection of my own teaching is that the impacts of sports confidence on performance, participation and self-esteem tend to be overlooked or at least not given as much “air time” as they require.
I wanted to change that
So, I put together a text which I used with my students to give them a better insight into the impacts of sports confidence and as a segway into looking at Vealey’s and Bandura’s models.
Please feel free to download and use this passage and the accompanying tasks.
Positive Impacts
Sports confidence has a significant impact on an athlete’s performance, mental strength, and overall well-being. When athletes have high sports confidence, they approach challenges with a positive mindset and focus on achieving success. This leads to better decision-making, strategies, and execution of skills during competitions. Performers with confidence in themselves also set challenging goals and work hard to achieve them, which gives them a sense of accomplishment and motivates them to keep improving. Additionally, sports confidence creates a positive environment for teamwork, as individuals who trust their abilities are more likely to collaborate effectively with their teammates.
Having high sports confidence not only improves performance but also encourages individuals to actively participate in various physical activities. This contributes to a healthier and more active lifestyle, promoting overall fitness. Positive sports experiences and heightened confidence bring enjoyment and fulfilment, making individuals more inclined to participate regularly. Sports confidence also plays a role in social interaction, bringing people together and developing connections and friendships among participants in group activities. Individuals with elevated sports confidence often become positive role models, inspiring others in their communities to join and actively participate in sports.
Negative Impacts
On the other hand, low sports confidence can have negative impacts on an individual’s performance, participation, and self-esteem. When someone lacks confidence in their sporting abilities, they may be hesitant to engage in physical activities due to a fear of failure. This fear can lead to a reduced willingness to participate and limit the exploration of different sports, preventing individuals from experiencing a diverse range of physical activities. Avoidance behaviour stemming from low sports confidence can result in a sedentary lifestyle, negatively impacting overall health and well-being.
Low sports confidence can also have a detrimental effect on an individual’s self-worth. When someone lacks confidence in sports, they may internalise failures and setbacks, leading to a decline in overall self-esteem. This negative self-perception can extend beyond sports and influence how individuals view their capabilities in various other areas of life. Constant exposure to sports-related challenges without positive outcomes can erode an individual’s belief in their competence, further diminishing their self-esteem. People with low sports confidence may struggle to cope with failures constructively, potentially experiencing a negative impact on their resilience and self-esteem. This creates a negative feedback loop, influencing an individual’s mindset and responses to future difficulties in different areas of life.
With the help of some nifty AI, I was then able to create a number of questions for students to grapple with. These included multiple choice questions, short answer questions and some open ended questions which were useful in extending the conversation about sports confidence and its impact on the individual within sport and in life in general.
Note to myself:”When teaching Sports Confidence, make sure you take the time to look at the impacts of sports confidence before diving straight into looking at Vealey’s and Bandura’s models”
