This research aims to 1) explore the psychological demands and prepare a psychological skill training (PST) package for taekwondo athletes; and 2) study the effect of a PST package on the mental readiness of a taekwondo athlete. Phase 1 is a discussion about the sports psychology skills needed for athletes. The PST package was developed and confirmed by 7 experts. In phase 2, 26 amateur taekwondo athletes from the eastern region of Thailand were divided into 2 groups. The experimental group had traditional taekwondo training combined with a program supplement of sport psychology skills training and the control group had only traditional taekwondo training: physical exercise, skills, and technique. The program duration was 8 weeks (3 times a week, approximately 30 - 45 minutes for each session). The tools used in this study included: 1) the PST package consisting of breathing control, muscle relaxation, complete relaxation, self-talk, and imagery techniques; and 2) the athletes’ mental readiness for competition questionnaire. A t-test was used to analyze the data. The results found that the experimental group had a higher mean score of the mental readiness in all aspects than the control group with significance at 0.05. In conclusion, the findings provide further evidence to suggest that psychological skills training packages are effective for the mental readiness of taekwondo athletes.
References
[1]
Blakeslee, M. L., & Goff, D. M. (2007). The Effects of a Mental Skills Training Package on Equestrians. Sport Psychologist, 21, 288-301. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.21.3.288
[2]
Boonveerabutr, S. (1998). Sport Psychology. Chonburi Printing.
[3]
Boyce, B. A., Johnston, T., Wayda, V. K., & Bunker, L. K. (2001). The Effects of Three Types of Goal Setting Conditions on Tennis Performance: A Field-Based Study. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 20, 188-200. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.20.2.188
[4]
Bülbül, A., & Akyol, G. (2020). Analyzing the Relation between the Sense of Citizenship and Global Citizenship in the Context of Students of Higher Education Institution. African Educational Research Journal, 8, 640-648. https://doi.org/10.30918/AERJ.83.20.141
[5]
Charalambous, A., Giannakopoulou, M., Bozas, E., Marcou, Y., Kitsios, P., & Paikousis, L. (2016). Guided Imagery and Progressive Muscle Relaxation as a Cluster of Symptoms Management Intervention in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Randomized Control Trial. PLOS ONE, 11, e0156911. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156911
[6]
Cox, R. H. (2002). Sport Psychology: Concepts and Applications (5th ed.). WCB McGraw-Hill.
[7]
Cumming, J., Nordin, S. M., Horton, R., & Reynolds, S. (2006). Examining the Direction of Imagery and Self-Talk on Dart-Throwing Performance and Self-Efficacy. The Sport Psychologist, 20, 257-274. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.20.3.257
[8]
Di Corrado, D., Guarnera, M., Guerrera, C. S., Maldonato, N. M., Di Nuovo, S., Castellano, S., & Marinella Coco, M. (2020). Mental Imagery Skills in Competitive Young Athletes and Non-Athletes. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 633. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00633
[9]
Gill, D. (2000). Psychological Dynamics of Sport and Exercise (2nd ed.). Champaign: Human Kinetics.
[10]
Goldman, R. (2014). What Is Jacobson’s Relaxation Technique? Introduction, 1-2.
[11]
Hardy, J., Gammage, K., & Hall, C. (2001). A Descriptive Study of Athlete Self-Talk. The Sport Psychologist, 15, 306-318. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.15.3.306
[12]
Hashim, H. A., & Yusof, H. H. A. (2011). The Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Autogenic Relaxation on Young Soccer Players’ Mood States. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, 2, 99-105. https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34786
[13]
Hatzigeorgiadis, A., Theodorakis, Y., & Zourbanos, N. (2004). Self-Talk in the Swimming Pool: The Effects of Self-Talk on Thought Content and Performance on Water-Polo Tasks. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 16, 138-150. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200490437886
[14]
Hatzigeorgiadis, A., Zourbanos, N., Galanis, E., & Theodorakis, Y. (2011). Self-Talk and Sports Performance: A Meta-Analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6, 348-356. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691611413136
[15]
Hayslip Jr., B., Raab, C., Baczewski, P., & Petrie, T. (2010). The Development and Validation of the Golf Self-Efficacy Scale. Journal of Sport Behavior, 33, 427-441. https://doi.org/10.1037/t43541-000
[16]
Julavanichpong, T. (2018). Stress Management and Psychological Skill Training in Sport. Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University Press.
[17]
Kobayashi, H. (2009). Does Paced Breathing Improve the Reproducibility of Heart Rate Variability Measurements? Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 28, 225-230. https://doi.org/10.2114/jpa2.28.225
[18]
Lim, T. H. (2007). Development of Model and Priority Order of Decisional Factors on Taekwondo Performance. Korean Journal of Sport Science, 20, 58-70.
[19]
Lim, T. H., & O’Sullivan, D. M. (2016). Case Study of Mental Skills Training for a Taekwondo Olympian. Journal of Human Kinetics, 50, 235-245. https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-2015-0161
[20]
Mamassis, G., & Doganis, G. (2004). The Effects of a Mental Training Program on Juniors Pre-Competitive Anxiety, Self-Confidence, and Tennis Performance. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 16, 118-137. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200490437903
[21]
Martarelli, D., Cocchioni, M., Scuri, S., & Pompei, P. (2011). Diaphragmatic Breathing Reduces Postprandial Oxidative Stress. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 17, 623-628. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2010.0666
[22]
O’Sullivan, D., Chung, C. S., Lee, K. K., & Kim, H. W. (2009). Measurement and Comparison of Taekwondo and Yongmudo Turning-Kick Impact Force for Two Target Heights. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 8, 13-16.
[23]
Ozgundondu, B., & Gok Metin, Z. (2019). Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Combined with Music On Stress, Fatigue, and Coping Styles among Intensive Care Nurses. Journal of Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 54, 54-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2019.07.007
[24]
Pan-uthai, S., & Thienthong, A. (2012). Effect of Mental Skills Training Program on Mental Toughness of Thai Professional Golfers. Journal of Sports Science and Technology, 12, 117-129.
[25]
Patanamontri, C., Vongjaturapat, N., & Anakesook, S. (2008). Sport Psychology Experience of Thai Olympians. Journal of Exercise and Sport Science, 6, 19-32.
[26]
Patanamontri, C. (2015). Development of a Questionnaire on Mental Readiness in Sports Competitions for Athletes. Research Report. Bangkok: Sports Authority of Thailand.
[27]
Rizal, H., Hajar, M. S., Savardelavar, M., Kueh, Y. C., & Kuan, G. (2019). The Effects of Progressive Muscular Relaxation on Novice Archers’ State Anxiety Heart Rate and Performance Score. International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences, 6, 96-112. https://doi.org/10.32827/ijphcs.6.4.96
[28]
Röthlin, P., Horvath, S., Birrer, D., & Grosse Holtforth, M. (2016). Mindfulness Promotes the Ability to Deliver Performance in Highly Demanding Situations. Mindfulness, 7, 727-733. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0512-1
[29]
Sargunaraj, D., Lehrer, P. M., Hochron, S. M., Rausch, L., Edelberg, R., & Porges, S. W. (1996). Cardiac Rhythm Effects of .125-Hz Paced Breathing through a Resistive Load: Implications for Paced Breathing Therapy and the Polyvagal Theory. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 21, 131-147. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02284692
[30]
Shivetts, M. S. (2006). Effects of an Individual Goal-Setting Intervention on Goal Orientation, Self-Confidence, and Riving Accuracy in Average Golfers: A Quantitative Design. MS Theses, Georgia Southern University. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/99
[31]
Slimani, M., Hentati, A., Bouazizi, M., Boudhiba, D., Amar, I. B., & Chéour, F. (2014). Effects of Self-Talk and Mental Training Package on Self-Confidence and Positive and Negative Affects in Male Kickboxers. Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 19, 31-34. https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-19513134
[32]
Stamatelopoulou, F., Pezirkianidis, C., Karakasidou, E., Lakioti, A., & Stalikas, A. (2018). “Being in the Zone”: A Systematic Review on the Relationship of Psychological Correlates and the Occurrence of Flow Experiences in Sports’ Performance. Psychology, 9, 2011-2030. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2018.98115
[33]
Thelwell, R. C, & Greenlees, L. (2001). The Effects of a Mental Skills Training Package on Gymnasium Triathlon Performance. Sport Psychologist, 15, 127-141. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.15.2.127
[34]
Thelwell, R. C., & Maynard, I. W. (2003). The Effects of a Mental Skills Package on ‘Repeatable Good Performance’ in Cricketers. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 4, 377-396. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1469-0292(02)00036-5
[35]
Weinberg, R. S., & Gould, D. (2003). Foundation of Sport & Exercise Psychology. Human Kinetics.
