Mental conditioning service to junior hockey players at initial stage of sports career

ˑ: 

PhD, Associate Professor Z.T. Usmanova1
1Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kazan

Objective of the study was to conduct a theoretical analysis to identify the peculiarities of mental conditioning service to junior hockey players at the initial stage of sports career.
Methods and structure of the study. The authors conducted a theoretical analysis of literary sources to determine the peculiarities of mental conditioning service to athletes, as well as a questionnaire survey of their parents to identify difficulties encountered by junior athletes at the initial stage of sports training.
Results of the study and conclusions. The authors disclosed at the theoretical level the concept of mental conditioning at the initial stage of sports career, as a system of general and specific technologies of psychological counseling of junior athletes in adapting to the requirements of sports activities in general and chosen sport in particular.
The mental conditioning service to junior athletes, according to the authors, is aimed to promote the harmonious development of junior athletes, to help them overcome the crisis when entering on a sports career and, based on this, to assist in achieving high sports results.
In addition to the theoretical substantiation of mental conditioning service to junior athletes at the initial stage of sports career, the authors conducted the questionnaire survey among the parents in order to study the difficulties faced by the young athletes at the initial stage of sports training, from the parents’ point of view. Based on the answers received, the authors concluded that it is necessary to open in a sports school a post of psychologist. At the same time, the authors point out that a trainer should possess knowledge not only in the field of pedagogy, but also in the field of psychology.

Keywords: junior hockey players, sports career, mental conditioning.

References

  1. Stambulova N.B. Psikhologiya sportivnoy kareryi [Psychology of sports career]. study guide. St. Petersburg, 1999. p. 56.
  2. Usmanova Z.T. Psikhologicheskoe soprovozhdenie yunykh khokkeistov na nachalnom etape sportivnoy karery [Psychological support for junior hockey players at the beginning of a sports career]. University teaching aid. Kazan: Tsentr innovatsionnykh tekhnologiy publ., 2019. 132 p.