Thesis (PhD (SportPsych))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / There has been a greater awareness in the psychological aspects of sport over the past few decades, and in particular, how the psyches of the players affect their performance. The game of cricket has been no exception. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) has been used successfully in the business world, but very little research has been done in the sport milieu. The motivation for this research was two-fold. First, there was the need for a cricket team to be mentally prepared to play at their highest potential on provincial level; second, the researcher was curious about NLP techniques being successfully applied in sport. NLP is the study of human excellence. It describes human functioning, and focuses on experience and experimenting rather than prescription; it can focus on how to intervene, transform and improve human functioning. NLP uses modelling to identify particular skills in successful people. (They like to say: “If he can do it, then I can do it too”.) Neuro refers to the nervous system and how it processes particular codes in the body through the five senses. Linguistic refers to the use of language and how it gives meaning to the neural processes through communication and symbolic systems. Programming refers to how a person sequences his actions to achieve his goals.

The main purpose of this study was to determine: * If there is a relationship between certain personality traits and participation in sport. * Whether cricket players possess certain personality traits in general and with regard to levels of play, playing positions and age. The literature study indicated that the study of personality tend to be complex and showed a relationship between personality traits and participation in sport. Furthermore the literature study showed that personality is not static, but dependant on acquired traits and responses. The empirical study revealed that certain personality traits in cricket players figure stronger than others regarding levels of play, playing positions and age, for example cricket players on club level tend to have more self control than school players and bowlers tend to show a larger tendency to disregard social rules and tend to be more enthusiastic, and greater risk-takers than batsmen and wicketkeepers. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The main purpose of this study was to determine: * If there is a relationship between certain personality traits and participation in sport. * Whether cricket players possess certain personality traits in general and with regard to levels of play, playing positions and age. The literature study indicated that the study of personality tend to be complex and showed a relationship between personality traits and participation in sport. Furthermore the literature study showed that personality is not static, but dependant on acquired traits and responses. The empirical study revealed that certain personality traits in cricket players figure stronger than others regarding levels of play, playing positions and age, for example cricket players on club level tend to have more self control than school players and bowlers tend to show a larger tendency to disregard social rules and tend to be more enthusiastic, and greater risk-takers than batsmen and wicketkeepers. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)