Psychological Preparation for Paralympic Athletes: A Preliminary Study

Area of Science:

• Sport Psychology
• Disability Sport

Background:

• Growing interest in Paralympic athletes' psychological traits, training, and performance since 1960.
• Focus on psychological skills training for athletes with disabilities over the past two decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a tailored psychological preparation program for Israeli Paralympic athletes.
• To demonstrate the integration of sport psychology into the training of athletes with disabilities.

Main Methods:

• Adaptation of the learning-modification-application approach and Simulation Training Exercise Program.
• Application to athletes with varying disabilities and sport-specific demands.
• Case studies in table tennis and sailing (Sonar 3-person keelboat).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated effective integration of systematic sport psychology preparation.
• Showcased adaptability of psychological programs to specific athlete needs and sports.
• Provided a framework for enhancing Paralympic athlete training.

Conclusions:

• Systematic sport psychology preparation is crucial for Paralympic athletes.
• Tailored psychological interventions can significantly benefit athletes with disabilities.
• Recommendations are provided for optimizing Paralympic athlete preparation.