The role of psychology in sport preparedness

It is often mentioned and written that sports preparedness mainly depends on mental and physical factors. By Nádori’s opinion “the components of sports preparedness is linked to the athletes’ personality that can be influenced by trainings. The combination of these properties and qualities play a decisive role in athletic performances. It is evident that we have to keep track of activities through which the results are created”. In sports basically the following two components can be distinguished (see diagram 1.). One of these components involves the physical abilities needed for motor skill activities, for example, strength, quickness, stamina, fitness, adaptability as well as coordination skills such as balance, time and space perception, technical and tactical knowledge etc. The other crucial component is performance “reflecting the athlete’s relationship with his/her coach and way of life.” (Nádori, 1991 p.39). Considering all these the athletes’ performance means the motivational base supporting the athletes to mobilize energy to be able to achieve their aims.  Nádori (1991) mentions that the athletes’ relationship with the club also plays an essential role in their performance. Naturally clubs and associations also have expectations. Harmonizing these requirements may result in higher performance from both sides. If the skills, abilities and competences of sports performance are missing or zero then poor performance is the result. As Nádori (1991) writes, throughout the process of trainings these components within the realm of performance are in relation with one another and pedagogy is also important in this process.  To be able to withstand the gruelling trainings athletes should be equipped with skills and competences to cope with all the physical and mental difficulties and trials. “The task of the academic researches is to reveal these interrelationships.” (Nádori, 1991 p. 40). So far most of the researches have been focusing on testing the ability of sports performance, but besides this performance other skills are also essential to be examined.

Now it has become evident that without the right and proper psychic and mental preparedness there are no sport results.

 Figure 1 Components of sports performance