[Extracted from Rushall, B. S. Introduction to the Sport Psychology Consultation System. Spring Valley, CA: Sports Science Associates.]

SECTION 1

The Sport Psychology Consultation System (SPCS) has a number of potential uses. The major feature of the SPCS is that it provides the psychologist with a viable means of supplying immediate feedback to testing that is completed with athletes. When testing of a client or clients is completed, it is possible for athletes to receive well-formatted and easily understood test results. Because of the way the information is presented, this service establishes the psychologist as being credible in his/her understanding of sport.

The SPCS has a number of uses that are readily apparent. Others will be developed as the system undergoes more frequent utilization.

1. Individual consultations. When an athlete seeks assistance, it is now possible to provide sport-specific testing materials and to generate test results immediately. It now is possible for a client to be tested, appraised, and counseled at the same session. Test results can be produced as printed reports or displayed on a computer monitor.

The non-computerized tests allow a practitioner to test and monitor progress on a number of features on a daily basis. The concepts that are analyzed are psychological status prior to competitions, perceptions of pressure, and reactions to the stresses of training and outside-of-sport factors. A further non-computerized test allows the immediate assessment of the characteristics which reside in an athlete which are similar to those of a model derived from a large number of world-record holders and champions.

2. Group consultations. It is now possible to test groups of athletes, such as teams, and produce team descriptions that indicate common and differentiating features within the group. Usually, individual analyses and group analyses are produced together when teams are tested. Test results can be produced as printed reports or displayed on a computer monitor.
3. Data storage. The results of testing can be retained on disks as a data storage procedure. This makes the data available for recall at any time for reference or research purposes.
4. Research data bases. The ability to store data on disks allows files to be manipulated using system utilities to create or modify file contents. Since data files are written in ASCII format, they are accessible by customized programs.
5. Research. The system allows direct analyses of intact groups for research purposes. The extent of any researches will be dependent upon the initiative of the researcher. The potential for longitudinal studies is great as files can be updated to include successive analyses to produce histories of testing.

The SPCS is appropriate for use by psychologists who provide services for athletes, teams, and coaches; for counseling services; for athletic department advisors and counselors; and for sport psychology teachers and researchers. This system may well serve as the focal point for establishing applied sport psychology laboratories in universities and colleges.

The ideal system components are as follows:

1. An MSDOS system with at least one disk drive. All programs are in machine language with the largest requiring 128K of RAM. This means that even the smallest MSDOS system will accommodate the SPCS.
2. A printer that produces 10 cpi spaced output. A fast daisy-wheel unit will produce a high quality form of report. Because of the limited page-print area of laser printers, the formatting of SPCS output cannot be accommodated.
3. The ability to provide continuous paper feeds of 81 x 11 inch paper. A tractor feed is recommended in order to produce consistently aligned output.

The programs and files on each disk can be copied in their entirety to a subdirectory on a hard disk. To execute the programs in a hard disk subdirectory it is only necessary to issue a "change directory" command and then enter the name of the program. For systems that only use floppy disks one only needs to enter the disk drive letter so that it becomes the default drive and then type the program name.

The Sport Psychology Consultation System comprises fourteen computer disks and a number of system manuals. The SPCS manuals contain instructions for using and understanding the system and master copies of the testing materials that are to be used in the consultation process.

The SPCS disks are:

1. COACH. The single program COACH.EXE analyzes data obtained from athletes on the Coach Evaluation Questionnaire (Rushall & Wiznuk, 1985). A report is produced as hard copy or on the monitor screen. It indicates a quantitative assessment of good coaching characteristics as revealed by the athletes' responses. MODIFY.EXE allows one to alter the contents of an established data file. OWNER is required to be in the same directory to run the programs. SAMPLE is a data file that can be used to run the COACH.EXE program for practice and familiarization purposes.
2. IE-ACH. The program INTEXT.EXE analyzes single or group responses to the Sport Locus of Control (IE) Scale (Stauss, 1975). The program MOTIVES .EXE analyzes single or group responses to the Achievement Motivations Scale for Sporting Environments (Rushall & Fox, 1980). Both programs produce a report as hard copy or on the monitor screen. The program MODIFY.EXE allows one to alter the contents of an established data file, as might be required for updating or correction purposes, that is to be used for either the INTEXT.EXE or MOTIVES.EXE programs. SAMPLE.INT contains data that can be used with the INTEXT.EXE program and SAMPLE.MOT contains data that can be used with the MOTIVES.EXE program. These two files can be used for practice and familiarization purposes. OWNER is required to be in the same directory to run the programs.
3. ATHLETE. The ATHLETE.EXE program produces individual hard copy analyses of responses to the Behavioral Inventories for Athletes (Rushall, 1976). DISPLAY.EXE produces monitor screen analyses of the same inventories. SIMULTAN.EXE produces hard copy of analyses simultaneously as data are entered into the computer. This simultaneous processing contrasts with the ATHLETE.EXE and DISPLAY.EXE programs that only start to produce results after all the data have been entered, that is, when a data file has been created and closed. BEHFILE.EXE allows the user to modify the contents of a data file that is created with the responses derived from the Behavioral Inventories for Athletes. GROUP.EXE produces a hard copy of a group or team analysis of the data in a data file. GROUPDIS.EXE produces a monitor screen output of a group or team analysis of the data in a data file. OWNER is required to be in the same directory to run the programs. SAMPLE is a small data file that allows the user to test and demonstrate the functioning of the programs without violating confidentiality. ATHLETE1, ATHLETE2, ATHLETE3, and ATHLETE4 are files that are referenced by the SPCS programs. They never should be altered.
4. BASKETBALL. The BASKET.EXE program produces individual hard- copy analyses of responses to the Psychological Inventories for Basketball Players (Rushall & Pound, 1976). The uses of DISPLAY.EXE, SIMULTAN.EXE, BEHFILE.EXE, GROUP.EXE, GROUPDIS.EXE, OWNER, and SAMPLE are similar to those indicated for the programs on the ATHLETE disk. BASKET1, BASKET2, BASKET3, BASKET4, and BASKET5 are files that are referenced by the SPCS programs. They never should be altered.
5. ICE-HOCKEY. The HOCKEY.EXE program produces individual hard- copy analyses of responses to the Behavioral Inventories for Ice-hockey Players (Rushall & Lamonica, 1984). The uses of DISPLAY.EXE, SIMULTAN.EXE, BEHFILE.EXE, GROUP.EXE, GROUPDIS.EXE, OWNER, and SAMPLE are similar to those indicated for the programs on the ATHLETE disk. HOCKEY1, HOCKEY2, HOCKEY3, HOCKEY4, and HOCKEY5 are files that are referenced by the SPCS programs. They never should be altered.
6. ROWING. The ROWING.EXE program produces individual hard-copy analyses of responses to the Psychological Inventories for Competitive Rowers (Rushall 1975a). The uses of DISPLAY.EXE, SIMULTAN.EXE, BEHFILE.EXE, GROUP.EXE, GROUPDIS.EXE, OWNER, and SAMPLE are similar to those indicated for the programs on the ATHLETE disk. ROWING1, ROWING2, ROWING3, ROWING4, and ROWING5 are files that are referenced by the SPCS programs. They never should be altered.
7. SOCCER. The SOCCER.EXE program produces individual hard copy analyses of responses to the Psychological Inventories for Competitive Soccer (Rushall & Ebeze, 1975). The uses of DISPLAY.EXE, SIMULTAN.EXE, BEHFILE.BAS, GROUP.EXE, GROUPDIS.EXE, OWNER, and SAMPLE are similar to those indicated for the programs on the ATHLETE disk. SOCCER1, SOCCER2, SOCCER3, SOCCER4, and SOCCER5 are files that are referenced by the SPCS programs. They never should be altered.
8. SWIMMING. The SWIMMING.EXE program produces individual hard copy analyses of responses to the Psychological Inventories for Competitive Swimmers (Rushall, 1974). The uses of DISPLAY.EXE, SIMULTAN.EXE, BEHFILE.EXE, GROUP.EXE, GROUPDIS.EXE, OWNER, and SAMPLE are similar to those indicated for the programs on the ATHLETE disk. SWIM1, SWIM2, SWIM3, SWIM4, and SWIM5 are files that are referenced by the SPCS programs. They never should be altered.
9. VOLLEYBALL. The VOLLEY.EXE program produces individual hard copy analyses of responses to the Psychological Inventories for Volleyball Players (Rushall, 1975b). The uses of DISPLAY.EXE, SIMULTAN.EXE, BEHFILE.BAS, GROUP.EXE, GROUPDIS.EXE, OWNER, and SAMPLE are similar to those indicated for the programs on the ATHLETE disk. VOLLEY1, VOLLEY2, VOLLEY3, VOLLEY4, and VOLLEY5 are files that are referenced by the SPCS programs. They never should be altered.
10. CONTROL. The CONTROL.EXE program analyzes single or group responses to the Sport Self-control Schedule (Rushall & Evans, 1986). A report is produced as hard copy or on the monitor screen. The program MODIFY.EXE allows one to alter the contents of an established data file, as might be required for updating or correction purposes. OWNER must be resident in the same directory for the programs to run. SAMPLE is a data file that can be used to run the CONTROL.EXE program for practice and familiarization purposes.
11. XSKI. The SKICROSS.EXE program produces individual hard-copy analyses of responses to the Behavioral Inventories for Cross-country Skiers (Rushall & Vikander, 1987). The uses of DISPLAY.EXE, SIMULTAN.EXE, BEHFILE.EXE, GROUP.EXE, GROUPDIS.EXE, OWNER, and SAMPLE are similar to those indicated for the programs on the ATHLETE disk. XSKI1, XSKI2, XSKI3, XSKI4, and XSKI5 are files that are referenced by the SPCS programs. They never should be altered.
12. GOALS. The GOALS.EXE program produces individual hard-copy analyses of responses to the Goal-setting Inventory (Rushall & Fisdel, 1987). The uses of DISPLAY.EXE, SIMULTAN.EXE, BEHFILE.EXE, GROUP.EXE, GROUPDIS.EXE, OWNER, and SAMPLE are similar to those indicated for the programs on the ATHLETE disk. GOALS1, GOALS2, GOALS3, GOALS4, GOALS5, GOALS6, GOALS7, GOALS8, and GOALS9 are files that are referenced by the SPCS programs. They never should be altered.
13. BASEBALL. The BASEBALL.EXE program produces individual hard- copy analyses of responses to the Psychological Inventories for Baseball Players (Rushall & Henderson, 1988). The uses of DISPLAY.EXE, SIMULTAN.EXE, BEHFILE.EXE, GROUP.EXE, GROUPDIS.EXE, OWNER, and SAMPLE are similar to those indicated for the programs on the ATHLETE disk. BASE1, BASE2, BASE3, BASE4, and BASE5 are files that are referenced by the SPCS programs. They never should be altered.
14. TENNIS. The TENNIS.EXE program produces individual hard-copy analyses of responses to the Psychological Inventories for Tennis Players (Rushall & Ackerly, 1991). The uses of DISPLAY.EXE, SIMULTAN.EXE, BEHFILE.EXE, GROUP.EXE, GROUPDIS.EXE, OWNER, and SAMPLE are similar to those indicated for the programs on the ATHLETE disk. TENNIS1, TENNIS2, TENNIS3, TENNIS4, and TENNIS5 are files that are referenced by the SPCS programs. They never should be altered.

It can be seen that the majority of disks contain programs with the same name and uses. This is done to produce a consistent and transparent system. However, each program on each disk is unique. The programs are not interchangeable between disks. It should be understood that the tests that are appropriate for the individual disks are very different. Consequently, the software used for analysis is peculiar to each test although the uses and output forms are similar.

The development of these programs was restricted to maintain a memory requirement of less than 65K. This restriction allows for the use of a spooler capacity if the computer system provides such an option because the programs are printer-bound. Such a configuration provides the fastest production of analyses.

The SPCS computerized testing materials that are provided are:

1. The Coach Evaluation Questionnaire. This inventory is given to athletes to evaluate a coach with regard to his/her good coaching characteristics. It is the only athlete-assessment-of-the-coach tool that is currently available. The question booklet (36 questions), answer sheet, a summary of question items, and the standardized instructions for administering the test are included.
2. The Sport Locus of Control (IE) Scale. This is a sport-specific adaptation of the Rotter IE Scale. It assesses the relative value of internal and external sources of reinforcement that are perceived by an athlete. The question booklet (31 questions), scoring explanation, answer sheet, and instructions for administering the test are included.
3. An Achievement Motivations Scale for Sporting Environments. Achievement motivations are divided into the motivations to succeed and the motivations to avoid failure. Scores are provided for these two factors in the situations of training, competition, and the sporting environment in general. The question booklet (28 questions), scoring explanation, answer sheet, and instructions for administering the test are provided.
4. Behavioral Inventories for Athletes. The behavioral and situationally-specific reactions of athletes are assessed. Responses are analyzed separately as individual items of important information that concern an athlete. This set of inventories is appropriate for all sports that are not accommodated by one of the sport environment-specific tests indicated below. The minimum age for testing is 11 years. The question booklet, containing four discrete inventories (a total of 252 questions), answer sheets, and instructions for test administration are included.
5. Psychological Inventories for Basketball Players. This set of inventories is appropriate for serious basketball players over the age of 14 years. It contains five inventories in a test booklet (a total of 354 questions), instructions for administration, and answer sheets.
6. Behavioral Inventories for Ice-Hockey Players. This set of inventories is appropriate for serious ice-hockey players over the age of 11 years. It contains five inventories in a test booklet (a total of 278 questions), answer sheets, and instructions for administration.
7. Psychological Inventories for Competitive Rowers. This set of inventories is appropriate for serious rowers over the age of 14 years. It contains five inventories in a test booklet (a total of 272 questions), answer sheets, and instructions for administration.
8. Psychological Inventories for Soccer Players. This set of inventories is appropriate for serious soccer players over the age of 14 years. It contains five inventories in a test booklet (a total of 341 questions), answer sheets, and instructions for administering the tests.
9. Psychological Inventories for Competitive Swimmers. This set of inventories is appropriate for serious competitive swimmers over the age of 11 years. It contains five inventories in a test booklet (a total of 264 questions), answer sheets, and instructions for administering the tests under standardized conditions.
10. Psychological Inventories for Volleyball Players. This set of inventories is appropriate for volleyball players over the age of 14 years. It contains five inventories in a test booklet (a total of 280 questions), answer sheets, and instructions for administering the tests.
11. Sport Self-control Schedule. This test measures an athlete's use of cognitions to control emotional and physiological sensations, the tendency to employ problem-solving strategies, perceived ability to delay immediate gratification, and general expectations for self-efficacy. A scale score is produced. The question booklet (35 questions), answer sheet, and standardized instructions for administering the test are included.
12. Behavioral Inventories for Cross-country Skiers. This set of inventories is appropriate for cross-country skiers over the age of 14 years. It contains five inventories in the test booklet (a total of 294 questions), the answer sheets, and instructions for administering the tests.
13. Goal-setting Inventory. This inventory assesses the following behavioral information concerning goal-setting: goal-perceptions, interactions with the coach, effects of goals on the athlete, goal-setting actions, factors which affect goal-setting, the relationship of goals to performance, and types of goals. It is appropriate for athletes over the age of 13 years. It contains 102 questions in a test booklet, an answer sheet, and instructions for administering the test.
14. Psychological Inventories for Baseball Players. This set of inventories is appropriate for baseball players over the age of 14 years. It contains five inventories in a test booklet (a total of 308 questions), answer sheets, and instructions for administering the tests.
15. Psychological Inventories for Tennis Players. This set of inventories is appropriate for tennis players over the age of 14 years. It contains five inventories in a test booklet (a total of 322 questions), answer sheets, and instructions for administering the tests.

The above materials are provided in master copy form. The user is responsible for reproducing the necessary copies to conduct testing sessions that provide the data for the SPCS computer analysis. The supplied covers for the tests can have institutional logos or identification attributions appended to them.

Master copy materials are provided for the following non-computerized assessment tools.

1. Sport Pressure Checklist (SPC) (Rushall & Sherman, 1987). This tool measures 16 internal and external sources of pressure that are perceived by an athlete with reference to a specific competitive event. Each source is evaluated as being negative, neutral, or positive on a scale ranging from -3 to +3. Scores are developed for internal, external, positive, and negative scales. Day-to-day logs are kept on scores and individual question responses. The tool is appropriate for use with athletes 14 years or older.
2. The Pre-competition Psychological Checklist (PCPC) (Rushall, 1987). This tool measures the existence of 24 psychological symptoms of the competition-readiness state, and scale scores for the level of excitedness, estimation of success, importance of event, and control over distractions. Post-competition assessments of performance quality are also obtained. The tool can be used at any time prior to a competition and is appropriate for athletes over the age of 12 years.
3. The Daily Analyses of Life Demands for Athletes (DALDA) (Rushall, 1987). This is a stress analysis tool that evaluates the status within an athlete of 25 symptoms of stress and the appraisal of effect of nine potential sources of stress in the athlete's life. It can be used to evaluate an individual's training response, to monitor daily training and overtraining, to assess travel disruptions and outside-of-sport stress influences, and to measure "peaking". It is appropriate for use with athletes over the age of 12 years.
4. Champion Characteristics Checklist (CCC) (Rushall, 1987). This evaluation tool lists 100 characteristics that consistently emerge in world-record holders and champions. Athletes over the age of 11 years indicate which characteristics do or do not exist in their behavior repertoires. They are then provided with an estimate of how much they are like a champion. The tool is used as a motivational and goal-setting device.

The manuals that are supplied are as follows:

1. The SPCS Testing Materials. This manual contains all the masters of testing materials contained in the system. Working copies of all materials should be made from these masters.
2. The SPCS User's Manual. This manual contains the step-by-step operation of the computer programs. It is written to industry standards and should allow an untrained person to immediately use the SPCS programs.
3. Handbook for Understanding, Interpreting, and Using the Tests Contained in the SPORT PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTATION SYSTEM. The derivation and development of each test or test-type is recounted. Suggestions for using the tests are made. Some data on findings involving studies conducted with the tests are reported.
4. Handbook for Using Non-computerized Assessment Tools in the SPORT PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTATION SYSTEM. The development of, and possible uses for, the four non-computerized assessment tools are described.

The computer software and testing materials that are contained in the SPCS are limited in their agreed upon use. The materials are to be used by the owner in the following manner:

1. The software can only be reproduced for backup purposes. No resale or lending of the materials is permitted.
   
2. The testing materials only can be reproduced in sufficient quantities to meet the needs of the owner. Tests cannot be sold or given away.
   
3. Supplied master materials can be altered to affix attributions to institutions or organizations that own the SPCS.
   
4. Translation of the system into foreign languages can be contracted with Sports Science Associates.
   

These restrictions mean that the materials are purely for the owner use. The SPCS, or parts of it, only can be obtained from Sports Science Associates. Thus, no other person or organization can obtain financial benefit from any part of the system, or deprive Sports Science Associates of financial benefit from any part of the system, without appropriate agreement from the distributor.

Sports Science Associates is obliged to provide all owners with notification of corrections to supplied materials as well as new additions to the system.

For further information write or call:

1. Ackerly, D. H. (1991). A behavior inventory specific to the tennis environment. Unpublished master's thesis, San Diego State University.
   
2. Ebeze, S. O. (1975). Psychological inventories for competitive soccer. Unpublished master's thesis, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
   
3. Evans, L. E. (1986). A tool for measuring self-control in athletes. Unpublished master's thesis, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Canada.
   
4. Fisdel, J. (1988). The development of a goal-setting inventory for use in sporting environments. Unpublished master's thesis, San Diego State University.
   
5. Fox, R. (1977). The construction of an achievement motivation scale for use in the athletic environment. Unpublished master's thesis, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
   
6. Henderson, G. (1988). The development of behavioral inventories for baseball players. Unpublished master's thesis, San Diego State University.
   
7. Lamonica, A. V. (1984). A tool for measuring psychological factors in ice-hockey. Unpublished master's thesis, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
   
8. Pound, S. M. (1977). Psychological inventories for competitive basketball. Unpublished master's thesis, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
   
9. Rushall, B. S. (1974). Psychological inventories for competitive swimmers. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
   
10. Rushall, B. S. (1975a). Psychological inventories for competitive rowers. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
11. Rushall, B. S. (1975b). Psychological inventories for volleyball players. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
12. Rushall, B. S. (1976). Behavioral inventories for athletes. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
13. Rushall, B. S. (1978). Environment specific behavior inventories: Developmental procedures. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 9, 97-110.
    
14. Rushall, B. S. (1987). Daily analyses of life demands for athletes (3rd edition). Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
15. Rushall, B. S. (1987). Pre-competition Psychological Checklist (3rd edition). Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
16. Rushall, B. S. (1987, June). Behavior characteristics of champions. An invited address at the IV Medicine and Sport Congress, Granollers, Spain.
    
17. Rushall, B. S., & Ackerly, D. H. (1991). Psychological inventories for tennis players. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
18. Rushall, B. S., & Ebeze, S. (1975). Psychological inventories for competitive soccer. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
19. Rushall, B. S., & Evans, L. E. (1986). Sport Self-control Schedule. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
20. Rushall, B. S., & Fisdel, J. (1987). Goal-setting Inventory. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
21. Rushall, B. S., & Fox, R. G. (1980). An approach-avoidance motivations scale for sporting environments. Canadian Journal of Applied Sport Sciences, 5, 39-43.
    
22. Rushall, B. S., & Henderson, G. (1988). Psychological inventories for baseball players. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
23. Rushall, B. S., & Lamonica, A. (1984). Behavioral inventories for ice-hockey players. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
24. Rushall, B. S., & Pound, S. M. (1977). Psychological inventories for competitive basketball. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
25. Rushall, B. S., & Sherman, C. (1987). A definition and measurement of pressure in sport. Journal of Applied Research in Coaching and Athletics, 2, 1-23.
    
26. Rushall, B. S., & Vikander, N. (1987). Behavioral inventories for cross-country skiers. Available from Sports Science Associates, 4225 Orchard Drive, Spring Valley, California 91977.
    
27. Rushall, B. S., & Wiznuk, K. (1985). Athletes' assessment of the coach - the Coach Evaluation Questionnaire. Canadian Journal of Applied Sport Sciences, 10, 157-161.
    
28. Stauss, J. (1975). Source of reinforcement as a potential factor in women's sport involvement. Unpublished master's thesis, University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
    
29. Wiznuk, K. (1984). A coaching evaluation tool for use by athletes. Unpublished master's thesis, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
    

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