Sports Psychology Terminology

adjective showing a lack of courage or determination; timid or fearful

• It is important for leaders to be courageous and not give in to the fears of the faint-hearted.
• Don't be faint-hearted, go ahead and give it a try!
• Real winners don't hang out with the faint-hearted.
• His determination was like a beacon of light in a sea of faint-heartedness.

• In order to achieve success, it is important to maintain a strong focus on your goals.
• Hey, can you focus and stop getting distracted by your phone?
• Dude, you need to get your focus straight if you want to pass this exam.
• The artist's focus on detail in his paintings is what sets him apart from others.

noun work that requires thinking or mental effort

• The success of this project relies heavily on the quality of our team's headwork.
• I need to put in some serious headwork to finish this assignment on time.
• Stop slacking off and do some headwork if you want to pass the exam.
• Her headwork in solving complex problems is truly impressive.

adjective describing something that causes fear or nervousness; frightening

• The new project manager has a very intimidating presence in meetings.
• I find his stare quite intimidating, to be honest.
• She's got this intimidating vibe that makes everyone nervous.
• The towering skyscrapers of the city can be quite intimidating to newcomers.

adjective lacking courage, determination, or strength

• Despite the nerveless demeanor of the speaker, it was clear they were feeling anxious.
• She acted nerveless during the presentation, but I could tell she was nervous.
• He was so nerveless during the interview, it was like he didn't even care.
• The athlete showed a nerveless performance under pressure, securing the win for his team.

noun a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• The constant changes in the stock market have left investors on edge.
• I've been on edge ever since I heard about the upcoming exam.
• She's been on edge all day because of the argument with her friend.
• The suspenseful movie had me on edge the entire time.

verb to intimidate, manipulate, or deceive someone psychologically in order to gain an advantage

• The athlete tried to psych out his opponent by maintaining a calm and confident demeanor.
• I think she's trying to psych us out with all these mind games.
• Don't let them psych you out, just focus on your own game.
• The loud noises from the construction site were starting to psych me out.

noun a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances

verb to put emphasis on something or to subject to pressure or tension

• High levels of stress can have a negative impact on both physical and mental health.
• I've been under a lot of stress lately trying to meet all these deadlines.
• I can't deal with all this stress, it's driving me crazy!
• The weight of the world on his shoulders was like a heavy burden of stress.

noun the outer layer of skin that provides protection and insulation for the body

adjective having a tough or resilient quality that is able to withstand criticism or harsh treatment

• In order to handle criticism in the workplace, it is important to develop thick skin.
• You need to grow some thick skin if you want to survive in this industry.
• Stop being so sensitive, you need to toughen up and get some thick skin.
• Having thick skin means being able to handle difficult situations without being easily affected.

adjective describing a temperature or atmosphere that is moderate and pleasant

• During the crisis, the leader remained cool, calm and collected, making rational decisions.
• Even when things got hectic, she stayed cool, calm and collected.
• He's always so cool, calm and collected, nothing ever seems to faze him.
• In the face of adversity, she was like a cool, calm and collected rock, unshaken by the storm around her.

noun an extreme or irrational fear of bicycles

• Cyclophobia is a recognized anxiety disorder characterized by an irrational fear of bicycles or cycling.
• My friend suffers from cyclophobia, so she always avoids bike paths and cycling events.
• I didn't know you had cyclophobia, that's why you never want to go biking with us!
• His cyclophobia towards commitment was evident in his reluctance to enter into a serious relationship.

noun a noun referring to a specific phobia or fear

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• Ptosiphobia is a rare condition characterized by an irrational fear of falling.
• I heard Sarah has ptosiphobia, she gets really anxious whenever she's near a ledge.
• Don't invite Mark to the rooftop party, he's got major ptosiphobia.
• Her ptosiphobia prevents her from taking risks in both her personal and professional life.

noun a person who is anxious or apprehensive about something

preposition expressing the reason for one's anxiety or apprehension

• She was feeling nervous for her upcoming presentation in front of the board of directors.
• I'm really nervous for my driving test tomorrow.
• I'm so nervous for the big game this weekend.
• He was nervous for his friend who was about to propose to his girlfriend.