Athletic Coping Skills Inventory: Assessing Your Sport Psychological Skills Instructions: The following are statements that athletes have used to describe their experiences. Please read each statement carefully, and then recall as accurately as possible how often you experience the same thing. There are no right or wrong answers. Do not spend too much time on any one statement. Please circle how often you have these experiences when playing sports. 0 1 2 3 1 On a daily or weekly basis, I set very specific goals for myself that guide what I Almost Almost do. never Sometimes Often always 2 Almost Almost I get the most out of my talent and skill. never Sometimes Often always 3 When a coach or manager tells me how to correct a mistake I've made, I tend to take Almost it personally and feel upset. Almost never Sometimes Often always 4 When I'm playing sports, I can focus my attention and block out distractions. Almost Almost never Sometimes Often always 5 I remain positive and enthusiastic during competition, no matter how badly things are going. Almost Almost never Sometimes Often always 6 I tend to play better under pressure Almost Almost because I think more clearly. never Sometimes Often always 7 I worry quite a bit about what others think Almost Almost of my performance. never Sometimes Often always 8 I tend to do lots of planning about how to reach my goals. Almost never Sometimes Often always 9 Almost Almost I feel confident that I will play well. never Sometimes Often always 10 When a coach or manager criticizes me, I Almost become upset rather than feel helped. Almost never Sometimes Often always 11 It is easy for me to keep distracting thoughts from interfering with something I Almost Almost am watching or listening to. never Sometimes Often always 12 I put a lot of pressure on myself by worrying about how I will perform. Almost never Almost Sometimes Often always 13 I set my own performance goals for cach Almost Sometimes Often Almost 14 15 16 17 practice. I don't have to be pushed to practice or play hard; I give 100%. If a coach criticizes or yells at me, I correct the mistake without getting upset about it. never Almost never I handle unexpected situations in my sport Almost very well. never When things are going badly, I tell myself Almost to keep calm, and this works for me. always Almost Sometimes Often always Almost Almost never Sometimes Often always Almost Sometimes Often always Almost never Sometimes Often always 18 The more pressure there is during a game, the more I enjoy it. Almost never Almost Sometimes Often always 19 20 21 While competing, I worry about making mistakes or failing to come through. I have my own game plan worked out in my head long before the game begins. never When I feel myself getting too tense, I can Almost quickly relax my body and calm myself. never Almost Almost Sometimes Often always Almost never Almost Sometimes Often always Almost Sometimes Often always 22 To me, pressure situations are challenges that I welcome. Almost never Almost Sometimes Often always 23 I think about and imagine what will happen if I fail or screw up. Almost never Almost Sometimes Often always 24 I maintain emotional control regardless of Almost Almost how things are going for me. never Sometimes Often always 25 It is easy for me to direct my attention and Almost focus on a single object or person. Almost never Sometimes Often always 26 When I fail to reach my goals, it makes me Almost try even harder. Almost never Sometimes Often always 27 I improve my skills by listening carefully to advice and instruction from coaches and Almost Almost managers. never Sometimes Often always 28 I make fewer mistakes when the pressure is on because I concentrate better. Almost Almost never Sometimes Often always Scoring This is the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI), a measure of an athlete's psychological skills, developed by Smith et al. (1994). Determine your score on the following subscales by adding the scores on the question numbers identified. Also, note the following numerical scales associated with your ratings. 0 = almost never 1 = sometimes 2 = often 3 almost always Finally, note that an * after a question number signifies a reverse-scored item (that is, 0 = almost always, 3 = almost never, and so on). Coping With Adversity: This subscale assesses if an athlete remains positive and enthusiastic even when things are going badly, remains calm and controlled, and can quickly bounce back from mistakes and setbacks. (Sum scores on questions 5, 17, 21, and 24, and place the total in the blank provided.) Coachability: Assesses if an athlete is open to and learns from instruction, and accepts constructive criticism without taking it personally and becoming upset. (Sum scores on questions 3*, 10*, 15, and 27, and place the total in the blank provided.) Concentration: This subscale reflects whether an athlete becomes easily distracted, and is able to focus on the task at hand in both practice and game situations, even when adverse or unexpected situations occur. (Sum scores on questions 4, 11, 16, and 25, and place the total in the blank provided.) Confidence and Achievement Motivation: Measures if an athlete is confident and positively motivated, consistently gives 100% during practices and games, and works hard to improve his or her skills. (Sum scores on questions 2, 9, 14, and 26, and place the total in the blank provided.) Goal Setting and Mental Preparation: Assesses whether an athlete sets and works toward specific performance goals, plans and mentally prepares for games, and clearly has a game plan for performing well. (Sum scores on questions 1, 8, 13, and 20, and place the total in the blank provided.) Peaking Under Pressure: Measures if an athlete is challenged rather than threatened by pressure situations and performs well under pressure. (Sum scores on questions 6, 18, 22, and 28, and place the total in the blank provided.) Freedom From Worry: Assesses whether an athlete puts pressure on him- or herself by worrying about performing poorly or making mistakes; worries about what others will think if he or she performs poorly. (Sum scores on questions 7*, 12*, 19*, and 23*, and place the total in the blank provided.) Total score or sum of subscales Scores range from a low of 0 to a high of 12 on each subscale, with higher scores indicating greater strengths on that subscale. The score for the total scale ranges from a low of 0 to a high of 84, with higher scores signifying greater strength.