". . . world class swimmers believe that talent, exceptional psychological racing skills, and a positive attitude toward training are necessary attributes for swimming excellence. Elite swimmers want their coaches to be positive and supportive prior to competition; they do not want an overload of technical strategies immediately prior to racing. Finally, peak performance is characterized by high self-confidence, self-controlled arousal, a holistic state of mind, good concentration, and a belief in previous training. The results of this project suggest that a psychological skills training program can be used to improve the chances of controlling all the factors necessary for peak performance." (p. 163)
Return to Table of Contents for ICAR 1990-91 Report.