Mental Preparation for Competitive Sport

Abstract

Elite athletes, subjected to a high level of demand and stress, experience mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. High competition sport presents challenges both physically and psychologically, which makes physical training as relevant as mental preparation to improve sports performance. For athletes, it is essential to learn relaxation techniques in order to reduce stress levels with various resources such as Jacobson's progressive relaxation, mindfulness, meditation and hydrotherapy.