Mental skills training experience of NCAA Division II softball catchers.

Abstract

Athletes competing at all levels of sport are constantly working on ways to enhance their physical performance. Sport psychology research insists there are higher performance results among athletes who incorporate mental skills training into their practice and competition settings. In order to use the mental skills strategies effectively, athletes must be educated about how and when to implement them. Athletes who have a positive experience with mental skills training and strategy use will most likely continue to use them throughout their athletic career. This qualitative phenomenological study describes the mental skills training experiences of NCAA Division II softball catchers and their performance in sport. Ten female collegiate softball catchers (aged 18-22) participating at six universities in the Central Region of softball competition, agreed to participate in this study. Findings from this study revealed themes of mental skills training strategies and factors that contributed to the use of mental skills training strategies to enhance performance. The findings of this study resulted in suggestions for those who concern themselves with the education and development of student-athletes to improve their performance, as well as recommendations for future research.