Sport Psychology in Action: 4-Part Article Series Connecting Research to Practice
A lot has changed in sports during 2020. Coaching in a COVID-19 world has shifted to online platforms and away from in-person interactions. Games, competitions and races have been put on hold for an indefinite time. For an athlete, the inability to work on attaining their goals can be very demotivating and this disruption can lead to a lack of focus, a sense of loss, or a need to reassess their athletic identity. Some athletes might even want to leave their sport altogether. Negative emotions such as disappointment, fear, loss, anger, frustration and confusion are normal responses during times of uncertainty. While each athlete manages their emotions in different ways, some athletes may have a harder time focusing on training and long-term goals when they do not know when their next race will occur. Coaches can help with this by providing guidance and encouragement.
