Changes in mood states during the preparation period of the world’s top junior tennis player

Dario Novak,Tijana Cirkovic

doi:10.52383/itfcoaching.v23i65.117

Abstract

   Conditioning preparation plays a key role in tennis. However, conditioning is usually marked by a fairly large training volume. Early identification of youth tennis players with serious emotional disorders is critical for avoiding overtraining. In the present study we investigated the changes in mood states during the preparation period of a top junior tennis player. The Brunel Mood Scale, consisting of 6 subscales with a 5-point rating scale to assess levels of mood states was used at 8 PM each night, and then again the following morning (8 AM). It can be concluded that specific mood factors increase and decrease in accordance with alterations in training intensity and period of the day.  

Highlights

On-court tennis training and match play involves prolonged, physically demanding activities that push the body to its limits resulting in substantial elevation of physiological and perceptual strain and reduced contractile function
There are more negative moods recorded towards the end of the preparation period
Negative moods with the presence of tension, depression, anger and fatigue are more present at the end of the day which is filled with jogging, strength and power, tennis and endurance sessions than in the morning before all of these activities

Summary

Introduction

On-court tennis training and match play involves prolonged, physically demanding activities that push the body to its limits resulting in substantial elevation of physiological and perceptual strain and reduced contractile function. Tennis players are expected to be in optimal condition for a large number of tournaments during the year, and there is no time for the “long” preparation period (Duffield, Murphy, et al, 2014). Emotions are shown to have great influence on an athlete’s performance. Extensive research into the role of anxiety in sport performance has already been conducted. There are a wide range of emotional states that have not been reviewed to the same extent. Mood states are different from specific emotions in that they are more enduring and less intense feeling states, but their effect on sports performance is thought to be substantial (Hagger and Chatzisarantis, 2005). Fewer studies to date have focused on mood states among tennis players. This study investigates the changes in mood states during the preparation period of a top junior tennis player

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