Concentration, Selective Attention and Positive Self-Talk - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

26 original exam-style questions - 6 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

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This topic is chapter 10 of GCSE Physical Education: Sport psychology Practice Book.

4.10 Concentration, Selective Attention and Positive Self-Talk

AQA 8582 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

Name one cue a netball shooter should focus on immediately before attempting a shot during a match.

(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)

A snooker player is at the table about to attempt a difficult long pot. Tick one box to identify the stimulus they should treat as IRRELEVANT and ignore using selective attention.

A) The position and angle of the object ball
B) The line of the shot to the pocket
C) A distant spectator's watch beeping
D) The amount of side/spin needed on the cue ball

(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)

State one example of an external distraction a tennis player might face during an outdoor match on a windy day.

(Total for Question 3 is 1 mark)

Give an example of positive self-talk a long-distance runner could use to keep going during a physically difficult final kilometre of a race.

(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)

Define 'positive self-talk' for a gymnast about to perform a floor routine.

(Total for Question 5 is 1 mark)

State one clear difference between positive self-talk and negative self-talk for a track sprinter about to start a race.

(Total for Question 6 is 2 marks)

A cricketer batting in a long innings can be distracted by both INTERNAL and EXTERNAL sources. Give one example of each for this batter.

(Total for Question 7 is 2 marks)

A gymnast is about to attempt a difficult vault they have previously fallen on in training. Compare an example of positive self-talk and an example of negative self-talk the gymnast might use in this situation.

(Total for Question 8 is 2 marks)

A darts player faces a long match made up of many individual throws. Describe how using the same pre-throw concentration routine every time could help the player maintain focus across the whole match.

(Total for Question 9 is 2 marks)

Describe how a football goalkeeper could use selective attention when facing a corner kick in a match to improve performance.

(Total for Question 10 is 2 marks)

Explain how selective attention helps a goalkeeper react more quickly to a deflected shot during an open play situation in a match.

(Total for Question 11 is 2 marks)

A footballer about to take a penalty says out loud 'smooth approach, trust the kick'. Give one reason why saying such a short phrase aloud can help, applied to the penalty situation.

(Total for Question 12 is 2 marks)

A rugby kicker misses an earlier kick at goal and starts to doubt their own ability before their next attempt. Explain how this self-doubt could disrupt the kicker's concentration, and describe one way the kicker could refocus before the next kick.

(Total for Question 13 is 2 marks)

A footballer running towards goal needs to widen their attention to check where teammates are making runs, then narrow their attention onto the ball just before shooting. Describe why the footballer's selective attention needs to change in this way as they get closer to shooting.

(Total for Question 14 is 2 marks)

A cricket fielder spends long periods in the outfield with the ball rarely coming to them during a match. Explain one way the fielder could maintain concentration during this quiet period of play.

(Total for Question 15 is 2 marks)

A swimmer has a poor previous length in a race and needs to refocus before pushing off the wall for the next length. Explain how a short concentration routine at each wall could help the swimmer refocus.

(Total for Question 16 is 2 marks)

A footballer misses a good scoring chance and says to themselves 'I always mess this up'. Explain why this kind of negative self-talk can be harmful to the footballer's future performance.

(Total for Question 17 is 2 marks)

Explain one way a coach could help a young player replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk during training.

(Total for Question 18 is 2 marks)

A hockey goalkeeper faces a penalty stroke in a noisy stadium. Explain how selective attention could help the goalkeeper ignore the crowd noise and focus on the striker's body shape as they approach the ball.

(Total for Question 19 is 2 marks)

Explain three techniques a basketball player could use to maintain concentration and stay focused on the game during a long, high-pressure cup final.

(Total for Question 20 is 3 marks)

Explain the difference between 'concentration' and 'selective attention' as they are used in sport psychology.

(Total for Question 21 is 2 marks)

A footballer is about to face a penalty in a shootout to decide a cup final, having missed a similar penalty earlier in their career.

Discuss how the footballer could use concentration techniques, selective attention and self-talk together to prepare for this penalty, applying your answer to their history of a previous miss, and reach a judgement about which of these approaches is likely to matter most in this specific situation.

(Total for Question 22 is 6 marks)

Explain two benefits that positive self-talk could give a footballer preparing to take a penalty in a cup match.

(Total for Question 23 is 2 marks)

Discuss how concentration techniques could help a weightlifter perform a clean and jerk at a national competition with an attentive crowd. Use the weightlifter as the named performer in your answer and make a judgement.

(Total for Question 24 is 6 marks)

A goalkeeper is about to face a penalty in a shootout to decide a cup final. Explain how the goalkeeper could use selective attention and positive self-talk together in the seconds before the kick is taken.

(Total for Question 25 is 2 marks)

Explain three reasons why a performer's concentration routine or self-talk technique should be practised regularly in training, rather than tried for the first time in a big competition.

(Total for Question 26 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · 4.10 Concentration, Selective Attention and Positive Self-Talk

Question 1

B1 any one of: rim/hoop alignment / hold of the ball / eye on the target / foot placement, oe
Answer: For example, rim alignment.

Question 2

B1 C
Answer: C

Question 3

B1 e.g. the wind affecting the ball's flight, crowd noise/movement, or an opponent's reaction/gesture, oe
Answer: For example, the wind affecting the flight of the ball, or noise and movement from the crowd.

Question 4

B1 e.g. 'keep pushing, you are nearly there' or 'strong legs, stay relaxed', oe (any genuinely encouraging phrase relevant to the situation)
Answer: For example, 'keep pushing, you are nearly there.'

Question 5

B1 using encouraging, task-focused statements to build confidence and maintain motivation before or during performance, oe
Answer: Using encouraging, task-focused statements to build confidence and maintain motivation before or during performance.

Question 6

B1 positive self-talk uses encouraging, task-focused statements that increase confidence, oe
B1 negative self-talk uses critical or fearful statements that increase anxiety and reduce focus, oe
Answer: Positive self-talk uses encouraging, task-focused statements that increase confidence, while negative self-talk uses critical or fearful statements that increase anxiety and reduce focus.

Question 7

B1 internal, e.g. worrying thoughts about getting out, tiredness, or replaying an earlier mistake in their mind, oe
B1 external, e.g. crowd noise, the fielding team's chatter/sledging, or a change in the weather or light, oe
Answer: Internal: worrying thoughts about getting out or replaying an earlier mistake. External: crowd noise or the fielding team's chatter.

Question 8

B1 positive self-talk, e.g. 'I have trained this vault, I can land it cleanly', oe (an encouraging, confidence-building phrase)
B1 negative self-talk, e.g. 'I fell on this last time, I am going to fall again', oe (a discouraging, doubt-creating phrase)
Answer: Positive self-talk: 'I have trained this vault, I can land it cleanly.' Negative self-talk: 'I fell on this last time, I am going to fall again.'

Question 9

B1 repeating the same set routine before every throw (e.g. the same stance, breath and focus point) gives the player a familiar, practised process to rely on, oe
B1 this makes it easier to reset concentration after each throw, rather than concentration gradually fading as the long match goes on, oe
Answer: Repeating the same set routine before every throw gives the player a familiar, practised process to rely on, making it easier to reset concentration after each throw rather than letting it gradually fade as the long match goes on.

Question 10

B1 focus on relevant cues such as the kicker's body position and the flight of the ball, oe
B1 ignore irrelevant stimuli like crowd noise or other players shouting, allowing faster reaction to the ball, oe
Answer: Focus on relevant cues such as the kicker's body position and the flight of the ball, and ignore irrelevant stimuli like crowd noise or players shouting so the goalkeeper can react faster to the ball.

Question 11

B1 selective attention focuses on key visual cues such as the ball trajectory and opponent limb movement, oe
B1 development: by filtering out crowd noise and irrelevant player movement the goalkeeper can anticipate and respond faster to the deflection, oe
Answer: Selective attention focuses on key visual cues such as the ball trajectory and opponent limb movement, and by filtering out crowd noise and irrelevant player movement the goalkeeper can anticipate and respond faster to a deflected shot.

Question 12

B1 it acts as a trigger or cue to focus attention on technique and block out distractions, oe
B1 development: saying it aloud reinforces confidence and creates a consistent routine that calms nerves before the kick, oe
Answer: Saying a short phrase aloud acts as a trigger to focus attention on technique and block out distractions; saying it aloud also reinforces confidence and creates a consistent routine that calms nerves before the kick.

Question 13

B1 self-doubt is an internal distraction that takes the kicker's attention away from the relevant technical cues needed to kick well, oe
B1 refocus method, e.g. using a short, practised concentration routine or a positive cue word before the next kick to bring attention back to the task, oe
Answer: Self-doubt is an internal distraction that takes the kicker's attention away from the relevant technical cues, so using a short, practised routine or a positive cue word before the next kick can help bring their attention back to the task.

Question 14

B1 earlier on, a wide focus lets the player take in more relevant information (teammates, space, opponents) to decide what to do, oe
B1 closer to shooting, a narrow focus on the ball (and the target) removes distracting information and allows precise technical execution of the shot, oe
Answer: A wide focus earlier on lets the player take in relevant information such as where teammates and opponents are, while a narrow focus closer to shooting removes distracting information and allows precise, technical execution of the shot.

Question 15

B1 the fielder could keep actively thinking about their role for each ball bowled, e.g. mentally rehearsing what they would do if the ball came to them, oe
B1 this keeps their attention on relevant, task-focused cues rather than letting their mind wander during the quiet period, reducing the chance of missing their moment when the ball does arrive, oe
Answer: The fielder could keep actively thinking about their role for each ball bowled, mentally preparing what they would do if the ball came to them, which keeps their attention task-focused rather than letting their mind wander.

Question 16

B1 a short, practised routine at each wall (e.g. a fixed sequence of actions or thoughts) gives the swimmer something familiar and task-focused to concentrate on, oe
B1 this stops the swimmer dwelling on the previous poor length and helps direct attention back onto the technique needed for the next length, oe
Answer: A short, practised routine at each wall gives the swimmer something familiar and task-focused to concentrate on, stopping them dwelling on the previous poor length and directing their attention back onto the technique for the next length.

Question 17

B1 it can reduce the player's confidence and self-belief going into their next chance, oe
B1 it can also create unhelpful pressure/anxiety that makes them more likely to make a similar mistake again, becoming a repeating pattern, oe
Answer: Negative self-talk like this can reduce the player's confidence going into their next chance, and can create unhelpful pressure that makes them more likely to make a similar mistake again, becoming a repeating pattern.

Question 18

B1 the coach could notice/point out when the player uses negative self-talk and ask them to immediately replace it with a specific positive phrase instead, oe
B1 repeated practice of catching and replacing negative thoughts in training can make positive self-talk a more automatic habit for the player in matches, oe
Answer: The coach could notice when the player uses negative self-talk and ask them to immediately replace it with a specific positive phrase, and repeated practice of this in training can make positive self-talk a more automatic habit in matches.

Question 19

B1 selective attention means deliberately filtering out irrelevant stimuli (the crowd noise) so it does not distract the goalkeeper, oe
B1 instead directing attention onto the relevant cue, the striker's body shape and approach, which gives information about the direction of the shot, oe
Answer: Selective attention means deliberately filtering out irrelevant stimuli, such as the crowd noise, so it does not distract the goalkeeper, and instead directing attention onto the relevant cue, the striker's body shape, which gives information about the direction of the shot.

Question 20

B1 using a consistent pre-shot or pre-play routine to give the mind a familiar, focused process to return to, oe
B1 using positive self-talk/cue words to redirect attention back to the task after a mistake or a break in play, oe
B1 deliberately focusing on relevant cues (e.g. the ball, the basket, teammates' positions) and filtering out irrelevant stimuli such as crowd noise or the scoreline, oe
Answer: The player could use a consistent pre-shot routine, use positive self-talk or cue words to redirect attention after a mistake, and deliberately focus on relevant cues such as the ball and the basket while filtering out irrelevant stimuli like crowd noise or the scoreline.

Question 21

B1 concentration is the general ability to focus the mind fully on the task in hand, oe
B1 selective attention is more specific: choosing/filtering which particular cues to focus on and which irrelevant stimuli to ignore, oe
Answer: Concentration is the general ability to focus the mind fully on the task in hand, while selective attention is more specific: choosing which particular cues to focus on and which irrelevant stimuli to ignore.

Question 22

Level 3 (5-6): A well-developed discussion that applies concentration, selective attention and self-talk clearly to the footballer's specific situation, including the earlier missed penalty, and reaches a well-justified judgement about which approach matters most here.
Level 2 (3-4): Some accurate application of at least two of the three techniques to the footballer's situation, with a judgement offered but only partly justified or with limited reference to the earlier miss.
Level 1 (1-2): Basic or generic statements about concentration and self-talk with little application to this specific footballer's situation, and no clear judgement.
Level 0 (0): No relevant content.
Indicative content:
- The memory of the earlier missed penalty is likely to act as an internal distraction, creating self-doubt and negative self-talk (e.g. 'I am going to miss again') if it is not managed before this kick.
- Positive self-talk can directly counter this by replacing the negative thought with a confident, task-focused phrase, helping restore self-belief before the run-up.
- Selective attention allows the footballer to filter out the crowd noise and the pressure of the occasion, focusing instead on the relevant technical cues, such as the goalkeeper's positioning and their own planned technique.
- A short, familiar concentration routine (e.g. a fixed number of steps back, a breath, a cue word) used consistently regardless of past results can give the footballer something practised to rely on rather than dwelling on the previous miss.
- A balanced judgement might argue that managing the internal distraction of the earlier miss through positive self-talk matters most here, since it is the specific psychological barrier this player faces, more than a generic need for selective attention that any penalty taker would have.
- An alternative judgement could argue the concentration routine matters most, since it structures and contains the moment regardless of what has happened before, giving the footballer a reliable process under maximum pressure.

Question 23

B1 point 1: increases confidence, for example saying 'I have practiced this' which reduces anxiety, oe
B1 point 2: focuses attention on technique, for example saying 'watch the ball, follow through' which helps maintain task focus, oe
Answer: Positive self-talk can increase confidence, for example saying 'I have practiced this' which reduces anxiety, and it can focus attention on technique, for example saying 'watch the ball, follow through' which helps maintain task focus during the penalty.

Question 24

Level 3 (5-6): A clear, well developed discussion that explains multiple concentration techniques applied to the named weightlifter, evaluates likely benefits in the competition setting, and reaches a supported judgement about overall effectiveness.
Level 2 (3-4): Some relevant techniques are explained with application to the weightlifter and some assessment of benefits, but development or judgement is limited.
Level 1 (1-2): One or two basic points about concentration techniques are made with minimal application to the weightlifter and little or no judgement.
Level 0 (0): No relevant content.
Indicative content:
- Possible techniques: pre-lift routine (same steps before every lift), controlled breathing, single-word focus cues, and visual focus on a fixed point on the bar or the floor marking.
- Application: a weightlifter could use a consistent pre-lift routine to cue muscle memory and reduce thinking under pressure, helping when the crowd is loud.
- Benefit evaluation: routines and breathing reduce anxiety and help maintain motor control for precise coordination in the clean and jerk, improving chance of successful lift.
- Selective attention application: focusing on the bar and body position while filtering out crowd noise prevents distraction and maintains technique under load.
- Limitations: extreme anxiety or unexpected distractions may still disrupt concentration; over-reliance on one cue might fail if that cue is removed.
- Judgement: a balanced conclusion could state that concentration techniques are likely to substantially improve performance for the named weightlifter in a national competition, while noting they are most effective when practised and combined with confidence-building self-talk.

Question 25

B1 selective attention: focusing on the relevant cue of the kicker's body shape/standing foot and run-up, while filtering out the noise of the crowd and the pressure of the situation, oe
B1 positive self-talk: using a short, confident phrase or cue word (e.g. 'stay big, watch the hips') to keep attention on the task and reduce anxiety in the moment, oe
Answer: The goalkeeper could use selective attention to focus on the kicker's body shape and run-up while filtering out crowd noise, and use a short, confident phrase such as 'stay big, watch the hips' as positive self-talk to keep their attention on the task and reduce anxiety.

Question 26

B1 a routine practised repeatedly becomes a more automatic habit, making it easier to use reliably under pressure, oe
B1 trying something completely new in a high-pressure competition adds an extra, unfamiliar task on top of the pressure of the event itself, making it more likely to fail or be forgotten, oe
B1 practising in training lets the performer find out which specific routine or cue words work best for them personally before it actually matters, oe
Answer: A routine practised repeatedly becomes a more automatic habit that is easier to use reliably under pressure; trying something new in competition adds an extra, unfamiliar task on top of the pressure of the event; and practising in training lets the performer find out which routine or cue words work best for them before it matters.

Concentration, Selective Attention and Positive Self-Talk - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

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4.10 Concentration, Selective Attention and Positive Self-Talk

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