CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN
MODERN SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
65
PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF PREPARING FUTURE
ATHLETES FOR COMPETITION
Khalikova Sevara Turdialiyevna
Student, Fergana State University, Uzbekistan
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15647440
Abstract:
This article focuses on the psychological foundations of preparing future
athletes for competition. Special attention is paid to various aspects studied in
the field, including the athlete’s emotional state prior to the competition, their
psychological readiness, the experience of victory and defeat, and the
psychological analysis of these phenomena.
Keywords:
individual goal, physical strength, emotional state, memory,
thinking, speed, fear, energy, physical ability, emotions.
Introduction
Any sporting activity is inextricably linked to competition; it is impossible
to imagine sports without competitive events. The process of training and
educating athletes is fundamentally aimed at preparing them to participate
successfully in specific competitions.
In pedagogical terms, a competition is a factor that determines and
observes human activity it serves as a motivating and stimulating force. The
educational significance of sports competitions is substantial and can be
characterized by the following features:
Striving for athletic success is one of the defining features of sports
competition. This intense struggle is not limited to personal goals; it also fosters
collective and social motivations.
Sports competition is marked by the exertion of both physical strength and
psychological activity. Such exertion is a specific feature of sports contests and
plays a crucial role in cultivating moral values, willpower, character, and
psychological qualities in athletes.
The intensity of sports competition enhances cardiovascular function and
accelerates metabolic processes. These physiological changes strengthen the
cardioneural system and improve the overall functional capacity of the div.
Sports competitions are a source of heightened emotional states. During
competitions, athletes are constantly faced with either success or failure.
Naturally, this produces alternating feelings of joy or disappointment, which in
turn influence their productivity either enhancing or diminishing it.
All psychological processes of the athlete become intensified during sports
competition.
CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN
MODERN SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
66
It is evident from the aforementioned distinctive features of competition
that sports contests serve as a means for athletes to demonstrate their
capabilities at the highest level and to cultivate noble human qualities.
Depending on the athlete's state of preparedness, the conditions of competition
may have varying effects on them.
A number of studies have been devoted to exploring the characteristics of
sports competitions, which are considered one of the primary forms of athletic
activity. Within the field of sports psychology, significant attention is given to
psychological issues such as the athlete's emotional state before competition,
mental preparation, responses to winning or losing, and the psychological
interpretation of these experiences.
A defining characteristic of sports competition is the intense struggle that
requires athletes to mobilize all of their physical and mental capacities to
achieve high performance. The competitive experience is marked not only by the
dynamics of the contest itself but also by heightened emotional intensity
associated with the outcome. Whether the athlete wins or loses in a competition
has a profound psychological impact.
The athlete’s emotional states prior to the start of a competition are also of
critical importance. These states can generally be categorized into four types:
1.
Pre-competition Trembling
2.
This condition is characterized by:
a) Severe anxiety that disrupts athletic performance;
b) Emotional instability, with rapid alternation between negative and
positive emotions;
c) Impaired concentration and attentional disturbances;
d) Weakened memory, in which the athlete may forget crucial elements
during the competition.
Physiologically, this condition is associated with excessive excitation in the
cerebral cortex, accompanied by a weakened inhibition process. It reflects the
nervous arousal and the psychological strain of resolving the upcoming
competitive tasks.
2. A Sense of Complacency
This state occurs when the athlete competes against a significantly weaker
opponent and assumes an easy victory. The main features of this condition
include:
a) Lack of necessary physical and mental preparation required to win
the contest;
CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN
MODERN SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
67
b) Diminished attention to the evolving dynamics of the sports
competition.
The psychological analysis of states such as the “dead point” and the
experience of a “second wind,” which arise in endurance sports, is of great
interest. During the “dead point” phase, the speed of mental processes sharply
declines, and the clarity of perception is lost. Visual and motor illusions begin to
emerge, and memory and thinking are significantly impaired. Research has
shown that these severe psychological conditions characteristic of the “dead
point” can be overcome by the athlete through purposeful control of their
actions and intense volitional effort, motivated by the desire to continue
competing.
The core mechanism underlying such volitional exertion lies in the
formation of conditioned reflex connections within the second signaling system.
These mechanisms exert a regulatory influence over the processes of the first
signaling system, helping the athlete to overcome the “dead point,” normalize
mental processes, and restore the perception of aesthetic and meaningful
sensations. As a result, the athlete regains self-confidence and a strong desire to
continue the competition with intensity.
Victory in sports competitions naturally provokes an emotional
response. In sports psychology, the study of the educational value of athletic
activity holds significant importance. Research indicates that one of the defining
features of athletic activity is the athlete’s ability to execute rapid, powerful, and
precise movements while maintaining complete control over their div. This
characteristic distinguishes sports activity from labor activity.
While many types of labor are performed at moderate intensity levels
optimal for the task, participation in sports activity often requires high levels of
exertion, and in some cases, maximum intensity movements. Depending on the
type of sport, this exertion may be very short-term (e.g., quick, explosive
actions) or, conversely, long-term. However, all of them invariably require the
expenditure of neuromuscular energy—without which, athletic performance is
impossible. At present, individuals not engaged in regular athletic training are
typically unable to participate in activities demanding high levels of strength,
agility, and rapid movement. Only regular sports training can enable such
capacities.
In the overall process of personality development, the age at which
certain physical influences are exerted plays a crucial role. The manifestation of
individual characteristics in various types of activity is closely linked to age and
CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN
MODERN SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
68
developmental stages. Certain types of sports activity can positively influence
personality development only at specific stages of youth. If this critical period is
missed, the effectiveness of the influence diminishes significantly. For example,
adolescence and early adulthood are periods closely associated with the
expression of physical capabilities. These stages are vital for the manifestation
of physical potential and the formation of subsequent psychological traits of the
individual.
Engaging in sports cultivates volitional perseverance and the ability to exert
effort in individuals. During the process of sports training, one acquires
necessary motor skills and demonstrates conscious volitional control during
muscular exertions that demand speed and great strength. This, in turn, enables
the athlete to overcome feelings of fatigue and to combat negative emotions such
as fear and lack of self-confidence.
Sports play a significant role during specific stages of human development.
As evidenced by anatomy, physiology, and psychology, adolescence and early
youth are particularly appropriate periods for manifesting physical abilities. At
the same time, these life stages offer broad opportunities for developing
psychological traits, as psychological characteristics and qualities are closely
connected to physical development.
An athlete engaged in any particular sport always sets the achievement of
high performance as a personal goal. Sports differ from other types of activities
in that they are characterized by heightened emotionality and intense
excitement on the part of the participant. Competitive interactions in sports not
only induce strong emotions in athletes but also evoke similar feelings in the
broader audience, including spectators such as excitement, joy, or
disappointment. Various types of sporting events can attract millions of people
and awaken some of the most elevated emotions in them.
Emotional reactions in sports typically arise during the course of
competitions. The dynamic intensity of movement is reflected in volitional
activity, which emerges in the face of great effort and challenges during
competition with an opponent, all directed toward the achievement of the
athlete’s goals. These phenomena are intrinsic to the nature of sports activity.
The emotional states that accompany high-intensity exertion such as
fluctuations between joy and disappointment, or alternations between anger
and trust, or between sadness and happiness, victory, and good mood are
considered natural. These emotional shifts, however, may give rise to difficulties
in managing the athlete’s psychological state.
CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN
MODERN SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
69
During competition, the athlete’s emotional arousal may manifest in various
forms. It is reflected in the athlete’s ability to maintain composure under
pressure and to self-regulate effectively, which is in turn linked to their pre-
competition psychological readiness. An athlete’s psychological condition before
competition is largely influenced by previous experiences and outcomes in past
competitions. According to some scholars, a moderate level of cortical excitation
in the brain enhances the likelihood of achieving positive results during
competition. However, if this excitation escalates to the level of start-line anxiety
or panic, the level of arousal becomes excessive, leading to poor performance
outcomes. The athlete’s state of readiness for competition is also dependent on
the excitability of their nervous system.
References:
1.
Mirziyoyev, Sh. M. (2017). We Will Build Our Great Future Together with
Our Brave and Noble People. Tashkent: “Uzbekistan” National Publishing and
Information Union.
2.
Mirziyoyev, Sh. M. (2017). Critical Analysis, Strict Discipline, and Personal
Responsibility Must Become the Daily Rule of Every Leader's Activity. Address at
the Extended Session of the Cabinet of Ministers Dedicated to the Main Results
of the Socio-Economic Development of the Country in 2016 and the Most
Important Priorities of the Economic Program for 2017, January 14. Tashkent:
“Uzbekistan”.
3.
Mirziyoyev, Sh. M. (2017). Together We Will Build a Free, Prosperous, and
Democratic State of Uzbekistan. Inaugural Address at the Joint Session of the
Chambers of the Oliy Majlis on the Occasion of Assuming the Presidency of the
Republic of Uzbekistan. Tashkent: “Uzbekistan” National Publishing and
Information Union.
4.
Vainbaum, Ya. S. (2002). Hygiene of Physical Education and Sports.
Textbook. Moscow.
5.
Ibragimov, M. B. (2018). Sports Medicine in Football: A Textbook. Bukhara:
“Durdona”.
