ABSTRACT
The general public generally views sport only as a physical activity. Those involved in competitive sports, however, know that performance is also closely linked to mental and psychological capacities (Maffuli 1998: 298). To take part in intensive training and competition, athletes need to have the ability to concentrate and persevere, to accept self-sacrifice and self-denial, to withstand suffering, and to abstain from specific activities and food. In modern sports, athletes can only succeed at the highest level if they combine the necessary physical and mental qualities. Athletes’ performance tends to improve significantly after mental training (Weinberg and Comar 1994; Solberg et al. 2000). Experienced trainers and educators have often seen naturally talented young athletes fail in their performances due to a lack of mental abilities while less gifted youths succeed because of their exceptional mental will and strength.
