Which Are the Most Determinant Psychological Factors in Olympic Shooting Performance? A Self-Perspective from Elite Shooters

Francisco Moreira da Silva, Paulo Malico Sousa, Valter Bruno Pinheiro, Olga López-Torres, Ignacio Refoyo Roman and Daniel Mon-López
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Francisco Moreira da Silva: Sport Sciences Department, Instituto Superior de Ciências Educativas (ISCE), 2620-379 Ramada, Portugal
Paulo Malico Sousa: Sport Sciences Department, Instituto Superior de Ciências Educativas (ISCE), 2620-379 Ramada, Portugal
Valter Bruno Pinheiro: Sport Sciences Department, Instituto Superior de Ciências Educativas (ISCE), 2620-379 Ramada, Portugal
Olga López-Torres: ImFINE Research Group, Health and Human Performance Department, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte-INEF, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Ignacio Refoyo Roman: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF—Sports Department), Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Daniel Mon-López: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF—Sports Department), Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-13

Abstract: Psychological aspects like anxiety, injuries’ effects, professional psychological support (PPS), psychological training (PT), or athlete-coach relationships could influence shooters’ performance. This study tried to determine which aspects were critical from the shooters’ perspective. Eight elite shooters were interviewed. After using qualitative methods, the following categories were obtained: importance of PT; anxiety and competition relationship; mental preparation; PPS; stress during training; injuries’ psychological effects and coach’s influence. PT is important for shooter’s performance, being PPS a key aspect. Moreover, anxiety levels are critical, raising during the pre-competitive period and oscillating during competition. Furthermore, shooters considered more effective the stress placed on training by the coach than by themselves. Accordingly, the coach plays a key role. Surprisingly, injuries did not affect shooters psychologically, nor in their competitive performance. We conclude that the combination of PPS, shooter competitive experience and the optimal coach’s work can promote a greater performance in Olympic shooting.

Keywords: rifle; pistol; anxiety; coach; injury (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4637-:d:544399

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