BALLS SPORTS MAGAZINE : SEPTEMBER 2007 65 eExxccuusseess!, We won or lost because….. Sports Psychology and Skill Acquisition ATTRIBUTION THEORY Definitions: Attributions - the reasons for, or causes to, events and behaviours. Locus of Causality – what a person believes was the reason for their success or failure at a task. Internal - factors within your control e.g. ability and your level of effort External - factors out of your control e.g. task difficulty and luck Stable - factors not subject to change in the short term e.g. ability and task difficulty Unstable - factors subject to change in the short term e.g. your level of effort and luck Weiner’s attribution theory proposed four types of attributions (ability, effort, task difficulty, luck) and placed these into two dimensions (Figure 1). LOCUS OF CAUSALITY INTERNAL EXTERNAL STABLE UNSTABLE STABILITY FIG.01 ABILITY TASK DIFFICULTY EFFORT LUCK TASK 1: Here is a selection of quotes from famous sports personalities in their post match interviews. Try and place each quote into one or more of the boxes in Figure 1. QUESTIONS: 1. Why do you think each of these sports stars gave the reason that they gave? 2. Why did Paul Collingwood make a point of referencing to the future? Extension Tasks • Watch ‘Match of the Day’ this weekend and listen to the post match interviews with the players and managers. What reasons do they give for the result? • Read the Sunday newspaper and bring in examples of quotes made by sports stars that fit in with Weiner’s model (ask permission before you cut up someone else’s newspaper!) Champions League Final, 2007 Liverpool 1 v AC Milan 2 “In the build up to the game we said it would be decided on small details and a bit of luck and AC Milan got that” Steven Gerrard, Liverpool captain Wimbledon Ladies Final, 2007 Venus Williams beat Marion Bartoli “Venus just played some unbelievable tennis… she served 120mph on 1st serve. I think I played a great match but in the end she was just too good. It’s just not possible to beat her when she plays like this on grass” Marion Bartoli, losing Wimbledon Finalist Tri Nations Rugby, 30th June 2007 Australia 20 v New Zealand 15 “We had some issues to address at halftime and thankfully we came out and did that. It was a great effort by us and it has been a long time coming” Stirling Mortlock, Australian Captain 3rd One Day International, 7th July 07 England v West Indies – England lost by 93 runs “We weren’t good enough but next time hopefully we will be. We’ve learnt a lot and the future’s looking bright” Paul Collingwood, England captain ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

66 BALLS SPORTS MAGAZINE : SEPTEMBER 2007 REVIEW PAGE Street Soccer Skills DVD and Juggling Awards Scheme. Sevo (Sports Evolution) have developed Brand Fusion which is a brand new approach to developing soccer excellence on the ball. In the form of a DVD and Juggling Award Scheme, Ball Fusion is not only an excellent tool for motivating students; it is also a way to expand upon traditional forms of teaching football. In addition to developing style, creativity and technical ability these products would be an inspiring way of adopting a Sports Education approach to a key stage 3 PE group. From over 100 tricks showcased on the DVD (in full speed, in slow motion, and in close up) the students will be encouraged to practice their own skills. This forward thinking product also encompasses cross-curricular themes and citizenship qualities. Ball Fusion is a great method of teaching football in schools and these products are excellent resources to help you deliver it. For more information on ball fusion, to see it in action, and to find out how you can purchase these products visit; www.ballfusion.com www.ballfusionlive.com www.sevo.co.uk Book Review In Pursuit of Excellence: A Student Guide To Elite Sports Development by Michael Hill. Written by the Chief Examiner for AS and A Level PE at Edexcel, In Pursuit of Excellence is a valuable read for students, but also for teachers not so familiar with this area. The book explores the development of sporting excellence policy in the UK and adopts a comparative approach with focus on the USA, Australia, France and the German Democratic Republic. Delivered in an accessible style this book provides concise chapters supported with illuminating information to enhance student understanding. Michael Hill has produced an invaluable book to aid the teaching and learning of comparative studies in sport. Moreover, it will also serve to increase an appreciation of the synoptic elements of AS and A Level study. Future editions of the book may benefit from a chapter which takes a theme (such as school sport) and looks at the similarities and differences in approach amongst the countries featured. iGoals We run football parties for children and if the party is in their back garden then we are required to bring our football goals. With our previous goals this meant we had to arrive 40 minutes early and without the instructions that said put piece ‘J’ in piece ‘L’ (that piece of paper flew away long ago!) These new iGoals are not only better than our previous goals but save us arriving so early. You pump the goals up with air and they are ready for action in less than 3 minutes and they are just as strong. For more details please visit www.redyset.com Review by Star Hotshots www.hotshots-sports.co.uk In this feature we review those products which we feel will prove useful for PE teachers and their students.