Mental Training Programs for Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to review the effective methods of the Mental Training (MT) Programs for athletes. Prior research on MT programs for athletes reported that MT programs were one of the effective strategies to improve competitive sport performance and to bring significant positive changes in athletes' psycho-emotional status to prevent burnout syndrome, depression and adjustment disorder after MT intervention programs. The former approach of MT programs was called “Psychological Skills Approach” and the latter “Psycho-Educational Approach.” In this review article, the following six topics were discussed : 1) the methods of MT, 2) MT and sport counseling, 3) the theory of Inverted-U Hypothesis, 4) packaged MT programs, 5) comparison of MT studies in Japan and foreign countries, 6) behavioral theories for MT program. Through the discussion of the six topics, it was revealed that one of the major issues involved in MT programs is that few athletes find it easy to continue their participation. In order to develop means of motivating their continuing participation in MT program, the theories of behavioral science such as Theory of Planned Behavior and Transtheoretical Model will be of great use. In future research, MT programs that are based on the behavioral theories will be needed for further understanding of the potential use of MT.