Integrated sport psychology support: a case study in motor sport

Abstract

This article shares a joint reflection of three practitioners who provided specialist support to one elite motor sport athlete. The 9-month program began with the broad aim of making the driver better prepared for performance at the highest level using the practitioners’ experience. One practitioner specialized in athlete well-being and performance support, another in vision/perceptual training, and the final practitioner in heart rate variability. The practitioners developed a bespoke program of support, including vision training, slow-paced breathing, and self-awareness. Program effectiveness was determined through objective measures, such as physiological readings and subjective measures, including feedback from the driver and performance coach. Evaluation and reflections of the program suggest that the athlete successfully learned slow-paced breathing, improved functional vision, and enhanced preperformance preparation and in-race regulation. The athlete also perceived the support to be beneficial and had the desire to develop mind–body effectiveness in the future.