Peculiarities of psychological preparation of young swimmers at the initial training stage

Abstract

The topicality of the problem is to determine the need to highlight the psychological component as one of the key factors in the success of young athletes at the initial stage of swimming training. It is at this stage that basic skills, self-esteem, attitude towards the aquatic environment, and initial competitive experience are formed. Insufficient attention to the psychological component may lead to the development of anxiety, fear, and reduced motivation in children. Therefore, the implementation of modern psychological support techniques, which promote the development of self-confidence, adaptation to the training process, and an increase in overall training effectiveness, is highly relevant. The purpose of the study is to identify key factors that influence the psycho-emotional state of swimmers during the initial training phase and to assess the psychological climate during swimming lessons, as well as to detect fears that may arise at this stage. Materials and Methods. The study involved 32 young athletes aged 7 to 11 who attended a sports swimming section in a 25-meter pool. The following research methods were used: analysis and synthesis of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical testing, questionnaires, comparative analysis, and mathematical statistics methods. Results. At the initial stage of training, special attention is paid to the psycho-emotional support of the training process, which is achieved through variability in training sessions, the use of musical accompaniment, the integration of playful learning methods, and the implementation of "self-governance days", during which young swimmers independently organize training using their favorite exercises. This promotes the development of initiative, creativity, and self-expression. As a result of the applied methods, survey results demonstrate a positive psychological climate during swimming sessions, and fears that arise in children at the first lessons are mitigated by the supportive psychological environment during training. Conclusions. Based on the information gathered from scientific and methodological literature and the conducted survey of young swimmers, it is worth noting that proper attention to psychological preparation at the initial stage of swimming, through the creation of a positive training environment, the use of modern psychological support techniques, the development of mental resilience and self-confidence, and an individual approach to each athlete, creates favorable conditions for achieving high results and maintaining motivation for training.