Sports psychologist Irina Kozyr talks about session with training camp participants in the Academy

Sports psychologist Irina Kozyr conducted a session with participants in the training camp in the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.

She told about development of a program for gymnasts and its goals and noted that the experience obtained would help them in the future:

"A program on psychological support in training camp conditions was written specifically. Its goal is to increase psychological readiness of athletes in the environment of workouts and competition activity. Short sessions were developed to enable giving as much information as possible for goal-setting, relaxation techniques, self-regulation, and for various other moments. For the purpose of being able to give it to them within a short period, so that they study it, come back with a certain base to their sports organization, and are able to apply it directly then. My program was developed specifically for gymnasts but many coaches come to training sessions and record information that is provided. And several coaches have already approached me, saying that this is very interesting."

The specialist explained why the gymnasts need to pay attention to the emotional condition:

"Many of them understand that 50% of success — this is the sports psychology. No matter how an athlete is prepared for an event physically and technicall, a great deal depends on the mood he or she has — what aid can he or she provide for himself or herself in order to enter the condition of operation readiness and show the maximal result."

The training camp is underway in the Academy by January 26.