Effects of Mental-Skills Training On the Performance of TableTennis Players of National Institute for Sport, Lagos.

Abstract

The study examined the effects of a six-week mental-skills training programme on the performance of table-tennis players of National Institute for Sport Lagos. The sample used for this study was four (n= 4) higher diploma students who were offering table-tennis as part of the requirement for the award of higher diploma in coaching of the institute. They were made up of two males (n= 2) and two females (n= 2). The participants were exposed to training in three different psychological skills: goal setting, self-talk, and visualization. Program effectiveness was evaluated through two different measures, anxiety and performance. The mental- skills measures consisted of pre and post results on the Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS) and the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT-A). The performance measures consisted of the athletes recorded scores for each meet, and the questionnaire. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistical tools of Mean Measure of dispersion, Standard deviation, as well as Pearson Moment Correlation, and T-test Inferential Statistics at significance level of 0.05 The results revealed that the majority of table-tennis players under the study had an increase in each of the mental-skills as well as the anxiety measures and overall performance.