11th Indian Ocean Islands Games 2023 – Madagascar |09 June 2023
NSC chief executive Marc Arissol addressing the coaches (Photo: Roland Duval)
Bringing psychological approach to sports
Other than physical and technical preparations, another basic variable in the field of sports performance is psychological well-being or mental health which supports athletes at all levels in handling the pressures of sports.
In line with that, new on the local sports scene is a newly set up psychosocial support group to give help to meet the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of sportsmen and sportswomen, in their quest to perform to the best of their ability in future instances when they are required to perform.
With almost two months left before the start of the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) scheduled for Madagascar from August 23 to September 3, the coaches working with the athletes in their preparation have followed a workshop mental health and wellbeing on Tuesday.
Hosted by the National Sports Council (NSC), the workshop was to help the coaches to better understand and guide the athletes under their responsibilities to achieve concrete goals, identify and overcome obstacles to well-being and performance, and build skills to deal with issues that may interfere with their success.
Launched by NSC chief executive Marc Arrisol in the presence of principal secretary for the family department Clive Roucou, the training was being run by Beryl Naiken, Jimmy Petrousse from the quality of life division, along with Dr Judy Shamlaye from the sports medicine unit within the NSC, and Seychellois sports psychologist Douglas Pierre who lives in Australia (through video call).
Launching the session, Mr Arrisol said despite being in the local context, psychological approach to sports has been long in existence, and it has also been proven as a key, if not the main factor behind the successes of a large majority of athletes.
He urged everyone to take the new approach to local sports in a positive manner, allowing them to make their own judgments based on results.
In his presentation, Mr Petrousse introduced the eight co-dependence dimensions of wellness which are emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, and financial.
He explained that in order for one to be successful in sports, it is equally important that, through the right support, other aspects of life are adjusted accordingly, since if any one of these dimensions is neglected over time, it will adversely affect one's health, well-being, and most importantly, performance.
Mr Petrousse explained that in many cases, lack of adequate support has been the main reason behind many failures in Seychelles’ sport, and most commonly the main reason behind many gifted athletes abandoning sports altogether, in favour of their personal, or family life because they had a crucial choice to make.
Other tan the above-mentioned personnel, the psychosocial support group is also made up of religious figures ‒ reverend Christine Benoit and pastor Terrence Payet ‒ who have been appointed in an official capacity as chaplains for sports.
Roland Duval
