CHANDIGARH, APRIL 24 : India’s first comprehensive ‘Psychological Skills Training Manual for Sports’, aiming to provide hands-on and comprehensive training resources to sports persons was officially released at D.A.V College, Sector – 10, Chandigarh this afternoon. Sh. S.S. Roy (Executive Director, Sports Authority of India, Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports, Patiala) and Harveen Sroa, eminent international rifle shooter, witnessed the event.
The importance of psychological skills training has been recognized worldwide. The research and applied aspects of sports psychology in recent years has generated a sense of realization among sports persons and coaches that in order to endure competition, the work on their psychological credentials cannot be neglected. Despite realizing the importance of psychological skills in sports excellence, no Indian author have penned any comprehensive training module that claims to serve and exclusively facilitate the stakeholders from the field of sports. However, a team of researchers from D.A.V College, Sector – 10, Chandigarh, have been working in the area of imparting psychological skills training among pistol and rifle shooters from last two years. Utilizing the essence of their training experience, Dr. Amanendra Mann (Associate Professor, Physical Education), Dr. Shruti Shourie (Assistant Professor, Psychology) and Chandan Preet (Ph.D. Scholar, Sport Psychology), have successfully authored a comprehensive training manual entitled, ‘Psychological Skills Manual for Sports’.
ABOUT THE MANUAL
The manual is a product of Major Research Project entitled ‘psychological skills training programme for rifle and pistol shooters to enhance their performance levels’ funded by University Grants Commission, New Delhi (UGC). The research project was carried out from April 2013 to September 2015.
The manual is divided into seven modules as follows:
Module I, involves generating awareness and importance of psychological skills training in sports
Module II, involves insight techniques to analyse strengths and weaknesses
Module III, involves relaxation techniques helpful to regulate stress and anxiety
Module IV, involves enhancing commitment and motivation through various goal setting and time management activities
Module V, involves enhancing confidence using various psychological exercises
Module VI, involves strategies to change negative thought pattern using positive self-talk, positive imagery and mental rehearsal
Module VII, involves attention enhancing strategies
The efficacy of the training programme was empirically assessed on national and international level rifle and pistol shooters. The trainees of the manual included eminent international shooters such as Anjum Moudgil, Malaika Goel, Hema KC, Ajitesh Kaushal, Ankush Bhardwaj and many more. All the trainees furnished highly positive feedbacks claiming that the psychological skills learnt during the training sessions was extremely helpful in coping with the challenging situations of the competition.
The manual has been fore worded by the pioneers of Indian Sports Psychology, Dr. M.L. Kamlesh, Former President, Sports Psychology Association of India and Prof. Dilip K. Dureha, Vice Chancellor, Laxmibai National University of Physical Education, Gwalior.
WHO CAN USE THE MANUAL
This manual is useful for sports psychologists, coaches, mental trainers, sportspersons and many others who are interested in conducting programs to enhance sports performance in their respective settings. The manual involves a participative and activity based methodological approach, which is focused on the trainer- trainee relationship aiming at the performance enhancement of the sportspersons through regular monitoring of the fluctuations in performance levels.
AVAILABILITY OF THE MANUAL
The manual has been already published and will be available on various online distribution channels, both in India and internationally including Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm, Shopclues and WFP store.