Improving Student Athletes’ Ability to Cope with Stress

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine if pre-match stress reduction techniques would impact the performance of wrestlers against quality competition. The participants were selected from Loyola Blakefield High School. The participants are current athletes of the school’s wrestling program. All participants are males ranging in age from 14-18 years old. This study was conducted using a causal-comparative design with a convenience sample. There were five wrestlers in each treatment group (breathing, imagery, or control). The results revealed no significant variance in performance between the experimental or the control group, though the findings could be attributed to a number of factors. Future research on discovering effective stress reduction methods prior to competition would continue the evolution of how athletes prepare mentally for optimal performance.