OPTIMIZATION OF SPORTS PERFORMANCE THROUGH SELF-TALK TECHNIQUE: AN EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimization effect of self-talk technique on soccer trapping performance abilities of players in Government-owned Universities in Enugu State of Nigeria. To facilitate the study, three (3) research questions and one hypothesis were formulated. The study adopted pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design. The population for the study consisted of all the top sixty four (64) soccer players drawn from the two Government-owned Universities in Enugu State, all of whom were used for the study. The instrument used was McDonald Soccer Test. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was the main statistical tool used to analyze the data. Based on the analysis, the following findings were made: (1) The experimental group had higher pre and post mean scores on the soccer trapping ability tests than the control group; (2) The mean gain difference score of the experimental group was also significantly higher than those of the control group, showing that self-talk technique is very effective in enhancing the soccer trapping ability of the players. Among other recommendations made are that regular seminars and workshops on the imperatives of psychological skills training be organized and that the services of sport psychologists be solicited for regular training and monitoring of players on self-talk and other psychological skills which promise better sports performance.