PSYCHOLOGICAL PREPARATION

Psychological preparation in sports:
Definition: psychological preparation refers to the mental preparation of the player before competition, during the competition, after the competition
Importance of psychological preparation
• Mental training is important as well as physical training
• Mind trains the body hence it is necessary to train the mind for high level performance in sports
• Psychological preparation helps the player to meet the demands of competition situations and everyday problems.
• Psychological preparation is important because it helps the player to deal with negative emotions like anxiety, fear of competition and arousal etc.,
• It helps the player to develop qualities like developing self awareness, and control, positive attitude, self confidence, tough-mindedness, strong will power and determination etc.
• It also helps the player to develop their concentration, decision making, and goal setting
• Psychological preparation helps to resolve the interpersonal conflict and to improve interpersonal relationships with team mates and the coach.
• It helps the athlete to learn mental skills.























Psychological preparation continuum










Types of psychological preparation

I. Short term psychological preparation
II. Long term psychological preparation

Long term psychological preparation

Pre competition phase

Stage 1: psycho diagnosis:
• The psycho diagnosis includes psychological tests which have to be designed keeping in mind the demands of the particular game, age and skill level.
• Broadly the psychological tests can include the area of psychomotor abilities, information processing, personality, motivation and social psychological factors.
• The testing is to be conducted during selecting a player or even when the training camps are in progress
Stage 2: Psychological recommendations:
• After the psychological assessment is done in the first stage, psycho pedagogical recommendations are given.
• The recommendation is to be given to different personal involved with the team.
• This includes coaches, players, doctors and other paramedical staff for further improvement of player’s performance.
Stage 3: psychological preparation
• Psychological preparation of team will include different exercises (relaxation training, managing stress, positive thinking, regulation of self, mental practice, training for concentration, and self talk) to improve those qualities which have been evaluated.
• The psychologist and the coach should be sensitive to observe the motivational levels of athletes and group dynamics of the team.
• Psychological stress management training has to be an integral part of training.


Competition phase or immediate phase:

Phase 4: Psychological control of player and self regulation during competition

• Psychological control during competition (pre game, start of match and competition period) will be achieved if the sports person has learned the psycho regulative techniques during long term preparation.
• During critical period of the competition, well meaning suggestions offered by the coach elicits change in athlete’s behavior.
• Pep talk, psycho regulatory techniques and brief counseling during the competition will help the player for better performance.

Post competition phase:
Stage 5: Evaluation
• Every competition provides a feed back of strengths, weaknesses and strategies used.
• Coach and player should together analyze the reasons for winning and defeating the match
• Based on these, future strategies can be chalked out and psychological preparation of the players should be continued.











Short term psychological preparation:

A. General planning:
• Under this category the player is helped to tolerate distractions like the pre match meal, timing of the meal, physical activities prior to the competition, details of equipment and travel, mental rehearsal programme.

B. Stress management:
• Relaxation exercises should be used more often. Sometimes interaction with other players and player’s interaction with significant others also reduce stress.