Effects of Mental Training on Sense of Rhythm

Abstract

Psychological preparation is an integral part of the athlete’s total preparation. Through mental training athletes learn how to relax, focus attention and perform other simple and complex psychological skills. In brief, athletes learn how to use their minds to enhance their individual and collective performances. After all, the body tends to follow what the mind thinks. Mental training provides information about the particular psychological make-up of each player. This information should be used by sport psychologists when formulating mental training programs for athletes. Since athletes possess unique strengths and weaknesses, individualized mental training programs are required. In brief, sport psychologists must know athletes well before they can mentally train them. Mental training is the practising of those psychological skills that lead to performance success. Mental training is an important part of the psychological preparation of athletes and should be integrated into each stage of the training cycle. Knowing the strengths and weakness of each player is essential before designing and implementing effective mental training (MT) programs.