Annotated Bibliography

Biggy, David , “Cheerleading Enters Forefront of Concussion Issue,” Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, Jan. 31, 2011, www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20110131/NJSPORTS/101310353/Cheerleading-enters-forefront-concussion-issue.

This article discusses how many injuries especially concussions occur in cheerleading. This article argues that cheerleading should be considered a sport so they receive the same medical treatments as other sports especially because of the intensity and all the injuries that are resulting from it. I will use this article to prove the advantages of considering cheerleading a sport, and the importance of cheerleaders needing just as much attention for medical reasons.

Eaton-Robb, Pat , “Groups Competing to Make Cheer a Recognized Sport,” The Associated Press, Sept. 8, 2010, www.usatoday.com/sports/college/other/2010-09-08-cheerleading-as-sport_N.htm.

This article is discussing how a large company, USA Cheer, is working with 15 colleges to begin a new competitive sport called “stunt” where different teams will compete different skills in more of a “game” way. “Stunt” will be created to qualify as a sport under NCAA and be supported by Title IX. I will use this article to prove how an effort is being made to make cheerleading be seen as a competitive sport and no longer just yelling “go team” on the sidelines.

Kelley, Jill , “Standardized Rules Could Lift Cheerleading's Status,” Dayton (Ohio) Daily News, Sept. 6, 2010, p. A8, www.daytondailynews.com/dayton-sports/high-school-sports/standardized-rules-could-lift-cheerleadings-status-900421.html.

This article discusses how groups are coming together to find ways to get cheerleading to be recognized as a sport. It discusses how cheerleading is evolving and the competitive nature of it. It also includes the opinions of many cheerleaders and their coaches. It also discusses the different types of cheerleading and how competitive cheerleading is different than sideline cheerleading.  I will use this article to support the competition cheerleading includes and how it reflects the nature of many other sports, also I will use this article to explain the different types of cheerleading in the beginning of my paper.

Research Paper

The world of sports has become highly competitive and the intensity is continuing to increase as athletes become better and better. This causes sports to be physically and mentally demanding. Obviously sports are physically demanding, but many people do not think about how mentally demanding sports are. The mentality of an athlete can keep them from winning and succeeding though. These emotional issues that can hold an athlete back for reaching their full potential consistently can be resolved by treatment and training. Mental training includes goal setting, visualization, mental imagery, self-talk retraining, mind control treaining, emotion control, and ways to establish thought and emotions.

            Robert Nideffer, a professor from San Diego State University and President of Enhanced Performance Systems said that, “if an athlete is satisfied with his or her performances on good days but unable to reach that level of excellence during competition, there might be a psychological problem.”

            There is so much pressure in the world of sports today and this creates great amounts of stress and anxiety for athletes. 90 percent of all athletes, of all ages, experience performance anxiety (Sigi). Most athletes claim that they fear falling, making a mistake, or choking in a competition. Anxiety is something an athlete must learn to control in order to perform their best. Bad nerves before the competition as well as during the competition can both negatively affect an athlete. Anxiety and stress cause “choking” which leads to an inability to perform well. Choking can cause an athlete to freeze up, lose concentration, rush their moves, feel tension, move slower, and many other negative effects on performance. Athletes that deal with anxiety and choking must be trained to relax, concentrate, handle distractions, and manage self-talk in order to put forth their best performance every time.  Athletes who learn and practice these mental skills will be more calm and confident which leads to a better performance.

            Another common psychological issue for athletes is their response to sports injuries. Many athletes that are injured actually slow down their recovery process by their psychological responses of fear, impatience, and depression.

           

http://www.mentaltraininginc.com/

http://www.mentaltoughnesstrainer.com/2012/01/how-to-eliminate-anxiety-in-sports/

http:http://www.intropsych.com/ch14_frontiers/psychological_problems_in_sports.html//www.behavioralassociates.com/treatment_mot_spo.asp

Research Topics

*What affects does adoption have on a child?

 -psychologically

-emotionally

-desire to know their real parents

-does the age they are adopted play into how they are affected

-success of adopted kids

*Diet and Nutrition for kids

-why kids are fatter now

-what parents need to do

-what schools need to do

-what eating habits lead to obesity

-what foods should kids be eating and what they should avoid

-how portion size comes into play

-what’s important: calories, fat, or carbs

*How psychology affects athletes just as much as skill

-being mentally prepared is just as important

-the mental training for success

-the effects of good mentality and bad mentality

-effects of mental imagery

-confidence-over and under

-emotional control

-dealing with pressure

-pregame attitude

-dealing with injury

-fear of failure