Test of Performance Strategies
Version Attached: Full Test
PsycTESTS Citation:
Thomas, P. R., Murphy, S. M., & Hardy, L. (1999). Test of Performance Strategies [Database record]. Retrieved from
PsycTESTS. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t50483-000
Instrument Type:
Inventory/Questionnaire
Test Format:
This instrument consists of 64 items and includes eight Practice subscales and eight Competition subscales. The
items are rated on a 5-point scale (1 = never; 2 = rarely; 3 = sometimes; 4 = often; 5 = always).
Source:
Thomas, Patrick R., Murphy, Shane M., & Hardy, Lew. (1999). Test of performance strategies: Development and
preliminary validation of a comprehensive measure of athletes’ psychological skills. Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol
17(9), 697-711. doi: 10.1080/026404199365560, © 1999 by Taylor & Francis. Reproduced by Permission of Taylor &
Francis.
Permissions:
Contact Publisher.
PsycTESTS™ is a database of the American Psychological Association
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t50483-000
Test of Performance Strategies
TOPS
Competition strategy
Factor 1: Self-talk
Talk positively to get the most out of competitions
Say things to help competitive performance
Manage self-talk effectively
Say specific cue words or phrases to help performance
Factor 2: Emotional control
Emotions keep me from performing my best
Emotions get out of control under pressure
When something upsets me, my performance suffers
Make a mistake, trouble getting concentration back on track
Factor 3: Automaticity
Perform without consciously thinking about it
Don’t think about performing much -- just let it happen
Perform on 'automatic pilot'
Play/perform instinctively with little conscious effort
Factor 4: Goal-setting
Set personal performance goals
Set very specific goals
Set specific result goals
Evaluate whether I achieve competition goals
Factor 5: Imagery
Imagine competitive routine before I do it
Rehearse the feel of performance in my imagination
Rehearse performance in my mind
Visualize competition going exactly the way I want it
Factor 6: Activation
Increase energy to just the right level
Do what needs to be done to get psyched up
Psych myself up to get ready to perform
Raise my energy level when necessary
PsycTESTS™ is a database of the American Psychological Association
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t50483-000
Test of Performance Strategies
TOPS
Factor 7: Negative thinking
Imagine screwing up
Self-talk is negative
Thoughts of failure
Keep my thoughts positive
Factor 8: Relaxation
Able to relax if I get too nervous
Find it difficult to relax when I am too tense
When the pressure is on, know how to relax
When I need to, I can relax to get ready to perform
Practice strategy
Factor 1: Goal-setting
Set realistic but challenging goals
Very specific goals
Set goals to help me use practice time effectively
Don’t set goals for practices, just go out and do it
Factor 2: Emotional control
Trouble controlling emotions when things are not going well
Frustrated and emotionally upset when practice does not go well
When things are going poorly, stay in control of myself emotionally
When I perform poorly I lose my focus
Factor 3: Automaticity
During practice sessions, seem to be in a flow
Movements and skills seem to flow naturally
Allow whole skill or movement to happen naturally without concentrating on each part of the skill
Don’ t think about performing much -- just let it happen
Factor 4: Relaxation
Use practice time to work on relaxation technique
Practise using relaxation techniques at workouts
Relax myself at practice to get ready
Practise a way to relax
PsycTESTS™ is a database of the American Psychological Association
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t50483-000
Test of Performance Strategies
TOPS
Factor 5: Self-talk
Talk positively to get the most out of practice
Motivate myself to train through positive self-talk
Say things to myself to help my practice performance
Manage self-talk effectively
Factor 6: Imagery
When I visualize my performance, I imagine watching myself as if on a video display
Visualize successful past performances
Rehearse my performance in my mind
When I visualize my performance, I imagine what it will feel like
Factor 7: Attentional control
Attention wanders while training
Trouble maintaining concentration during long practices
Focus attention eV ectively
Able to control distracting thoughts when training
Factor 8: Activation
Trouble energizing if I feel sluggish
Practise energizing during training sessions
DiYculty increasing energy level during workouts
Practise a way to energize myself
Note . Items are rated on a 5-point scale (1 = never; 2 = rarely; 3 = sometimes; 4 = often; 5 =
always).
PsycTESTS™ is a database of the American Psychological Association
