Sports Type and Gender Influence on Mental Skills Among Elite Players
Keywords:
foundational skills, psychosomatic skills, cognitive skills mental training, omsat-3, sport psychology, gender differences, athletic performance.Abstract
This study, titledSports Type & Gender Influence on Mental Skills Among Elite Players‘examines the effectiveness of the Ottawa Mental Skills Assessment Tool (OMSAT-3) in assessing Indian athletes. The research focused on how sport type (golf vs. cycling) and gender influence mental skills among elite golfers and cyclists at the 37th National Games in Goa, India. A two-way ANOVA analyzed the effects on foundational (goal setting, commitment, confidence), psychosomatic (stress and fear control, relaxation, energizing), and cognitive skills (focusing, imagery, refocusing). Key findings indicate that golfers showed higher confidence (p < 0.01), better stress (p = 0.01) and fear control (p < 0.001), while cyclists excelled in relaxation (p = 0.01), energizing (p < 0.001), imagery (p < 0.01), and mental practice (p = 0.02). Minimal gender differences were observed, emphasizing the importance of sport-specific psychological training.
