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Exploring temporal patterning of psychological skills usage during the week leading up to competition: Lessons for
John Elvis Hagan1,2, Dietmar Pollmann1, Thomas Schack1,2
1"Neurocognition and Action - Biomechanics"- Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Sciences, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
Plos One
|August 9, 2017
Summary
Elite athletes use more psychological skills, but imagery use declines before competition. Formalized training may improve athletes' pre-competition mental state.
Area of Science:
- Sport Psychology
- Performance Enhancement
- Skill Acquisition
Background:
- Limited research exists on psychological skill use in the pre-competition phase.
- Understanding the timing and content of psychological skills is crucial for athlete development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic or stable nature of psychological skills usage over a 7-day pre-competition period.
- To explore how natural learning experiences influence skill acquisition across gender and skill levels.
Main Methods:
- Ninety elite and sub-elite table tennis players completed the Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS).
- Data were collected at three pre-competition time points: 7 days, 2 days, and 1 hour.
- A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with repeated measures was employed.
Main Results:
- Elite athletes reported higher usage of self-talk, imagery, and relaxation compared to sub-elite athletes.
- Imagery use significantly decreased as competition approached.
- Relaxation use remained stable at 7 days and 1 hour pre-competition but decreased at 2 days.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the implementation of formalized, periodized psychological skills training.
- Continuous training cycles can foster a positive long-term psychological state in athletes.
- Tailored psychological interventions may be necessary to optimize skill use across different pre-competition phases.
