Felt needs for psychological training to enhance performance: Perspectives of youth engaged in competitive sports

BACKGROUND: Individuals undergoing training in competitive sports are required to deal with various challenges such as real and perceived pressures to perform and invest sustained efforts in rigorous training regimens. Global literature indicates successful inclusion of psychological components in the training of sportspersons. It is well recognized that training programs need to be designed keeping in view the local contextual factors as well as felt needs. However, there are very few studies from India that have explored felt needs of individuals training in competitive sports. AIM: The study was conducted to explore felt needs for psychological inputs in youth selected for training in various sports by the Youth Empowerment and Sports Department, Government of Karnataka. METHOD: The sample composed of 166 youth (males = 98 females = 68), aged between 16 and 21 years, residing in state sports hostels of Bengaluru and Mysuru and undergoing training in competitive sports. A ten-item survey prepared based on the literature review, and a pilot study was used to assess felt needs for training in psychological aspect for performance enhancement. RESULTS: Learning ways to maintain motivation for sports practice despite ups and downs in performance/other obstacles, maintaining self-esteem, managing disappointments, managing anger, and handling stress related to injuries received highest endorsements (75% or more) as strong felt needs in the overall sample. Only a few differences emerged between genders and age groups. CONCLUSION: The study has implications for integrating psychological training into the routine training of young sportspersons engaged in competitive sports.