Sports Achievements between Physical and Mental Training

Author: Dr. khashef zaid
Date: 6 September 2006

 

Upon asking a gold medal achiever about the important of mental training comparing to physical training, He comply that while the Physical training is 90% important in training field, in competitions the mental training is the one 90% important!!. The reason, that in competitions the physical performance between athletes is almost equal so the winner will be with the most efficient mental abilities.

Physical and mental training are inseparable in sports. It's critical to improve the technical skill before working on the mental training steps such as taking decision and imagining sports moves. It's the nature of feeling the athletes have while performing physical skills. the key to succeed in any physical skill is confidence and concentration.

Some athletes wonder about the reason of their failure, Whether it is a physical reasons or mental. However, every one agree that the mental training effect in so many sports situations, like some athlete failure to achieve an easy goal or penalty as seen in the last world cup. In general the physical training and mental training both hold responsible of that failure, but the mental elements are responsible in these cases.

-         When the athletes don't release why they are participating in professional sports.

-         When the athletes perform better in training than in competitions.

-         When the athletes performance get negatively affected by the audience.

-         When the athletes get anxious or panicked of competitions.

-         When the athletes think negatively or heshe can't concentrate while competing.

-         When the athletes fail to reach their usual level of performance after an injury.

In fact in the Arab world mental training has a bad reputation because of it's association with mental illness. For instance the Egyptian coach stated a few months back when asked if the Egyptian team needs a sports psychologist, that his team members are not mentally ill. this misunderstanding of the important role of sports psychology ,comparing to the rest of the world, rise the need to change the name to mental training instead of sports psychology which has a calming effect on the coaches and athletes.

Also this is the roles or work of the mental training

-         Establish the social and mental care for the athletes, so they trust them self more.

-         Increase the athletes' motive for achieving better levels.

-          Improve the athletes' interrelationship through team spirits and solidarity. Also, improve the relation between them and technical and administrator staff responsible of them.

-          Enhance the consternation level in the athletes and improve their ability to handle failure.

-          Improve mistakes and failure handling skills.

-         Build up healthy believes system in the athletes, and help them to rid of irrational thoughts.