The Influence of a Mental Skills Training Program on Competitive Anxiety

As a basketball coach, and former athlete, the researcher observed a fluctuation in the performance of some athletes during anxiety producing competitive events. The researcher conducted a review of literature, and concluded that the use of a mental skill training programs might reduce the competitive anxiety levels of athletes. As a result, the purpose of this project was to determine if the implementation of a mental skills training program would lower the anxiety levels of five Division I female high school basketball athletes. Following the completion of the Mental Skills Training Program (MSTP), the competitive anxiety levels of four out of the five intervention athletes were lowered. When compared to a baseline figure, the results indicated that the five participating athletes had slightly lower competitive anxiety levels, then that of the norm, following the MSTP. Thus, the researcher concluded that the use of a mental skills training program may decrease competitive anxiety levels.