A sports psychologist, Irina Kozyr, is now working at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.
“The sports psychologist’s task is to properly accompany the athlete, teach various methods, for example, self-regulation, and ensure that he or she is ready in the right way for long training sessions,” Irina said.
According to her, it is very important to ensure the psychological readiness of young athletes before the competition.
“To ensure that the athlete is ready psychologically for the competitions, to teach how to determine their pre-start state in the right way, evaluate it after the performance. For example, the girls on the mats need to do some introspection and, based on what happened out there, plan what they will do next,” she said.
The psychologist added that one of the main methods of her work is observation.
"When I, for example, sit down and watch the training process, I look first at the coaches' contact with the gymnasts, their contact with the coach, their reaction to the feedback, perhaps what conclusions they draw. I take into account and look at the stress resistance of athletes to the comments that they receive during the training process,” Irina explained.
After training, the psychologist, together with the gymnast, analyzes her state of mind.
“We briefly discuss how to get ready for the next training session, what conclusions can be drawn from what was done now in training. We do this so they can continue to work well, in full force, taking into account their psychological state, so that everything is done productively!”
Now the Academy gymnasts are preparing for the international tournament in Minsk, which will be held in August.