Psychological skill training to enhance sports performance among undergraduate athletes in Kogi State

Abstract

The line between winning and losing in sports these days is becoming thinner. Athletes – especially those at the intermediate level of competition require the right psychological skill training (PST) to achieve these due to the psychological demands of sports on athletes varying between teams, sport type, age, gender and level of competition. PST intervention was frame worked on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Experimental research design was employed for the study. Twenty two male and female athletes voluntarily participated in the intervention. ANCOVA was used to test the significance of intervention and moderating variable (age) on performance at 0.05 alpha level. Findings indicate that goal-setting and imagery (F=0.62 and F=1.42 at p 0.014 < 0.05) were significant. It also indicates significant interaction with age (p 0.95 > 0.05). It is concluded that applying psychological skill training program alongside physical training is effective to provide the needed psychological skills among high intensity sport athletes.