The Science of Canoeing By Richard Cox

with the expectation of achieving rapid results. Such an approach is unworkable.
Even if the coach is professionally trained in sports psychology, he is usually too emotionally involved with
his/her athletes and their performance outcomes to tackle the problem rationally on his own. Secondly,
psychological preparation of athletes for major competition usually necessitates a great deal of individual
counselling which requires considerable time to build up the necessary confidence and trust to provide for
effective understanding and communication. To prepare, plan, implement and accurately evaluate an appropriate
programme of psychological intervention can take as long as three of four years. Once up and running such a
programme needs to be available at all times and regularly monitored. If an athlete needs help in coping with a
problem, it is no good him/her having to wait for some time because the team psychologists is employed for
only a few weeks a year. Finally, in this respect, a programme of psychological intervention will not work
unless the psychologist is employed as part of the team. The coach must not perceive one or more of his athlete's
need to receive additional counselling as a failing of his own ability. Similarly, s/he should not undermine an
athlete who requires such help or the programme of intervention the psychologists provides. All to often in
Britain, sport has been associated with amateurs and the macho tradition. Coaches who have encouraged an
aggressive approach, showing little, if any, support for those who found the pace 'too tough' (in their perception)
to cope with and who thought that psychological preparation was simply about providing inspiring pep talks
before a race and out shouting fellow coaches words of support as they followed the race from the river bank
have unfortunately turned many away from the sport and prevented some would be champions from realising
their true potentials. Regarding the sports psychologist him/herself, it is important to employ the services of
someone who is balanced in their own personal life. A good communicator and preferably someone who has
both an understanding and a positive attitude towards the sport concerned.
Motivation
One of the most important psychological factors influencing performance is motivation. Motivation may be
simply defined as "willpower" or "drive to achieve certain goals". The origin of this force may stem from
entirely intrinsic desires (eg - to skilfully paddle a canoe on moving water), or extrinsic desires (eg - to secure
prestige and opportunities to travel overseas as a member of the national team). Amongst any group of canoeists
there are likely to be an equal number of different motives for taking part in the sport. A given individual may
have more than one motive, some intrinsic, some extrinsic. The priority attached to any one of these motives
might also change from time to time. An adolescent boy might participate in canoeing to share experiences with
his peers. A few years later when he has developed his skills to a high degree, his primary motivation might be
to take part in the Olympic Games. Another few years later and his motivation for canoeing might be to
encourage his own children to become involved in the sport.
Understanding the nature of a paddler's motivation will enable the coach to understand what makes him/her
"tick", what s/he wants from the sport and what are the driving forces. The origin of their motivation is likely to
determine the intensity and durability of that motivation - how committed the athlete is to achieving those ends;
how hard they are willing to train, how much time they will devote to the sport, etc.