The effect of mental training on the mental preparation of Tehran's elite rowing athletes

Competition at high levels of sports, such as world championships, Olympic competitions and national competitions, puts a lot of pressure on athletes of various disciplines. In order for athletes to perform well in these competitions, it is necessary to improve their mental skills as well as their physical and technical skills. When there is a good balance between the athlete's mental strength and physical strength, it can be expected that this athlete's performance in high-pressure competitions It should match his ability level. Considering the importance of a prepared mind in reaching peak performance, this research has investigated the effect of a mental skills training course on the mental preparation of elite female rowing athletes. The intervention consisted of 12 sessions of mental training, including visualization, relaxation, focus , refocus and self-confidence, stress control, dealing with mental pressure, goal setting, strengthening self-awareness and mental training. The Ottawa mental readiness questionnaire was completed by the athletes before and after the intervention. Eleven elite athletes who had nine sessions a week. had regular physical training participated in this research. The results of the data analysis showed that a significant change was observed in factors such as anxiety control, invigoration and concentration recovery, however, factors such as visualization of the intervention did not have a significant effect, it can be said that the athlete's previous experiences and high visualization scores at the beginning of the research can be the reason for this, the results of this research It suggests that athletes get to know mental skills well and use them in different stages of training and competitions in order to show a performance according to their abilities.

Key words: rowing, mental preparation, elite athlete