Identifying and targeting sources of negative Psychological Momentum within players will increase their performance. Teams with more resistance to negative Psychological Momentum will perform better in comparison to teams with low tolerance.

Project Goals | Background

Psychological Momentum is usually described as having a ‘hot hand’, or being ‘in the zone’. Typically, the athlete or team with a positive PM will experience a significant increase in feelings of control, confidence, optimism, and energy.

Under a sports psychology lens, momentum is a battle of attrition. There is little evidence that shows quantitative, positive effects after increasing momentum, but its loss can be devastating.

Justification

• 70% of young athletes left sports by their teens, often because of a toxic or negative experience*. How to we compete in a sportsmanlike manner, building up team and sport culture?
• SHS Ultimate is a young program, how can I grow it?
• Preserve Ultimate Frisbee Culture while enhancing my team's ability to compete

*National Alliance for Youth Sports

End Goals | Effect on Team

Media Generated:

• 1-2 posters per game, ~22 total
• 1 recap video per week, 4 total (in capstone)
• Order high quality flag/flagpole for team use

Outlooks Shifted:

• Measure 1 player's outlook over the rest of capstone via interview, 8 games/interviews total

Plays created:

• Create 3 plays to generate momentum, observe in games

Ideally:

• Increase in interest in frisbee at SHS
• Increase Somerville's "spirit score" at tournaments
• Increase performance at games

Project Goals | Methodology

Coaches & Athletes | Psychologists | Media

Improve in-game strategy

Improve out-of-game hype

Improve player responsiveness/psychology

Coaches/Athletes

Psychologists/Athletes

Media Generation

Precedents | In-Game Strategy

Most plays that shift the momentum in a game were created with scoring in mind. The plays that I create will be based on generating tactical momentum.

Trick Plays - Shift Momentum

"Flex" Plays - Maintain Momentum

3 Man Weave - Tactically sound, good looks

"Old Reliable" - Risky, but if successful lots of momentum

Tactical Momentum | In-Game Strategy

“Tactical Momentum” - A plan for subverting or maintaining momentum/morale/energy/PM during a perticular moment during a match or tourney

Current Directions

• Traditional plays, shifting the momentum by creating tactical success on field via ‘big plays’ or moments of mastery
• Sideline plays, shifting the momentum via sideline engagement off field. Cheering plays/active sideline
• Reward players who do the ‘dirty jobs’ on the field. Good defense, stuff that won’t make the highlight reel but is crucial to overall advantage, ect.

Traditional and sideline plays should be blended for maximum effect

Example Play | In-Game Strategy

Split Stack | Flex Play

Malloy's Play | Big Play

This was the initial idea for the project. I want to create material that draws fans in, creating a strong base for our players to get excited from.

STILL HERE: Patriots Super Bowl 53 Hype Video

Precedents | Media Generation

Red Sox Instagram account

Team Unity | Media Generation

Outcome: Success! Flag generated significant spirit, with many players attributing positive momentum shifts to it.

• Create pride within athletes through symbolic unity

Initial Posters | Media Generation

• Working with potential lines, working to see what fits
• Who are we?
• Used Track & Field photos because none were available yet

WE ARE VILLEN | Media Generation

• Tagline "we are villen", highlight teammates
• Initial poster, worked on formatting, highlighting team & flag, distinguishing from background

WE ARE VILLEN | Media Generation

• Tagline "we are villen", highlight teammates
• Initial poster, worked on formatting, highlighting team & flag, distinguishing from background

• Create anticipation for the coming season by capitalizing on the "Edit" trend.
• Clips from first tournament
• Mostly Big Plays

• Posted to social media, positive response.

He's Back! | Media Generation

• Convey a sense of how the tournament went to JV and outside world, build interest.
• Congratulate players who had a great tourney!

• Posted to social media, positive response.

Danvers Recap | Media Generation

• Increase team connectivity through humor
• Vent negative experiences/celebrate successes through media

Memes and Inside Jokes | Media Generation

Player Interview | Player Psychology

Objectives - primary

• Find areas to improve PM and negative resistance
• Identify team weaknesses/strengths, interview others accordingly
• Flex goal, user specific

Objectives - secondary

• Form a closer friendship 
• Create a supportive network for venting within team

Quantitative Questions | Player Psychology

y/n questions

Did you get 8+ hours of sleep prior?

Did you get enough to eat?

Were you slightly injured?

Scale of 1-10:

How much energy did you have?

How did you feel at the beginning of the game?

How did you feel at the end?

Phenomenalogical Questions | Player Psychology

How did the game go? Give me an overview from your perspective.

Why do you think it went that way?

How did you contribute to that outcome? How did you contrast that outcome?

What were you feeling at that moment?

How do you think others could have done better?

How do you think you could have done better?

Do you need other’s help with that?

Can you help others with their own struggles?

When were you most excited?

When were you most lethargic?

Weekly

• Create recap vid using game footage
• Create 1-2 posters using images from practaces/games

Questions? Feedback?