B.P. Yakovlev, professor, Dr.Sc. Philos.,
D.S. Ushakova, N.R. Usaeva, postgraduates
Surgut State University, Surgut

Key words: psychological-educational training, rehabilitation processes, psychological correction, psychophysiological stimulation.

Introduction. In the context of the current study, psychological-educational training is treated as a specifically organized psychological effect, which is to be applied selectively with due account for athlete's personality traits and is aimed at mobilization and remobilization of athlete's psychophysical strength within structured cycles of educational-training or competitive activities. Adequate choice of psychocorrective means and methods of psychological support in training of athletes is an essential closing stage in a psychologist's practice within a sports team. Preventing or lowering the degree of severity of adverse states during the most important periods of competitive activity is one of the main grounds for a psychologist, a coach, and a specialist working with the personality of an athlete who always has a potential to be a champion. Negative subjective feelings, level of emotional tension, lack of confidence in one's own powers and abilities may occasionally result in finding oneself out of, what would seem, 100% success [1].

The issue of studying the interrelation between psychophysiological status of an athlete and learning environment of sports activity is of great current interest and importance for sport psychology, and it reveals the determinacy of body reactions and psychic manifestations to physical and mental loads within different periods and cycles of sports training. Understanding the interrelation pattern will contribute to more selective and efficient planning and managing the training system of qualified athletes, and to influencing the effectiveness of competitive activity.

Nowadays, the effectiveness of competitive activity of elite athletes is mostly evaluated by educational criteria or by the basic components of the effectiveness of competitive activity.

It is a one-sided approach towards athlete’s individual psychological personality characteristics: in the current aspect, positive adaptation and regenerative reactions are determined by a complex of training means and methods affecting an athlete's body and psychological state, and by the main components of physical load.

Evaluation and analysis of the impact of physical load on an athlete's body and effectiveness of competitive activity are to be considered in view of a two-way active orientation with due regard to educational and individual psychological personality characteristics of an athlete. The regenerative remobilization and adaptation of an athlete's body and psychological state under sports activity conditions may take place only in view of this dynamic nature of the interrelation process [5, 6].

Consequently, by understanding the real ability to fully eliminate or to partially compensate for the impact of the determining factors of internal and external tension particular objectives and tasks of psychological-educational training are being formed, thus setting a projective level (focus on the future, for instance focus on development of psychological traits) and a remedial level (focus in the current situation) of conducting it:

•  optimization of prestart mental readiness for action;
•  optimization of relationship with a coach, as well as of team relations;
•  reduction of the effect of psychological trauma due to an athlete's failure in an important competition;
•  restoration of psychophysiological functions after strenuous training and competitive loads.

In the context of our research, the main approach to psychocorrection implies the usage of a complex of methods of suggestive and rational psycho-regulation before a start and after a competition. The study of the use of a complex of psycho-regulation methods proves effectiveness of their usage under specific conditions of the competitive training period in view of the differentiated analysis of athlete's individual psychological characteristics. The athletes attending psychocorrection classes showed, on the basis of psychological control of dynamics of changes that occurred afterwards, that they could calm down, relax, and relieve physical and psychological stress after strenuous training and competitive loads; could regulate independently such vegetative functions as heart rate fall, eupnoea; could enhance psychomotor functions by means of improving the quality and effectiveness of self-regulation of motor actions; enable boosting and maintaining of self-assessment of their state of health, activity, emotional state, desire to train, satisfaction with their own activities; and could foster skills of profound inner monitoring and of cognition of individual self.

The purpose of the study was to research by means of an experiment various complexes of rehabilitation psychocorrection in competitive training period of racing skiers aged 14-16 years.

Unlike psychotherapeutic methods, psychocorrective ones have rehabilitation, rather than curative, orientation to mobilize potentials and stimulate mental actions selectively affecting athlete's personality characteristics and psychophysical capabilities [3, 4].

Materials and methods. The conducted study was dedicated to evaluation of the impact of psychocorrection on recovery during competitive activity. A complex research was pursued in the picked teams of the Children's and Youth Sports School of Olympic Reserve of Surgut and the region in cross-country skiing involving 25 athletes aged 14-16 years (12 young males and 13 females), of whom 7 were Candidate Masters of Sports of Russia, 12 had I senior degree, 6 - II senior degree. Within the groups of racing skiers under study, traditional (educational) methods of recreation were applied, but the psychocorrection course for the experimental group included a program of psychophysiological stimulation - the index of α-potential relaxation, which allowed relieving stress after competitive loads [2].

It is known that athletic improvement process implies rational planning of training process and subtle combination of training loads of varied intensity and relaxation. Therefore, educational tools of organization of proper recreation are to be considered as the key ones. A reasonable balance between general and specific training of an athlete and clever implication of light training and microcycles are of particular importance. In practical work, the system of alternation of specialized and contrasting microcycles proved its value. In contrasting microcycles the training conditions are less strenuous, and rehabilitation issues are to be solved, besides the tools of selective and indirect impact prevail. In some cases, contrasting microcycles comprise easier tasks, and the total of recreation days increases. Such kind of organization of training process helps to eliminate monotony, invariability of training sessions, which is of great importance when creating "holiday atmosphere" [4]. Basing on the above, we made changes to the intensity of physical loads within restoration microcycles of competitive period (Table 1).

Table 1. Content of restoration microcycle during competitive period of racing skiers aged 14-16 years

Results and discussion. Based on the research findings, psychophysiological stimulation has a considerable impact on the dynamics of rehabilitation processes occurring during intense competitive activity. Restoration of muscular performance after intense competitive activity is more effective in terms of psychophysiological stimulation as compared to the conventional methods of recreation.

For instance, during the district championship, the results of the experimental group of racing skiers in 5000 meter classic style race and in 10 000 meter skating style race increased by 4.7 and 5.3% accordingly as compared to the results of the control group (Table 2). While using psychophysiological stimulation between starts, the effectiveness of rehabilitation improved, and performance restored to the full.

The dependence of the effectiveness of psychophysiological stimulation on the onsetting fatigue is of interest. Herewith, the effectiveness of psychophysiological stimulation was proved to decrease.

But such decrease in terms of this type of recreation is displayed in a lesser degree as compared to the traditional recreation.

During competitive activity, the differences in impact of the covered types of recreation at the first stage of the main competitions were inessential, however, with the onsetting fatigue (at the end of the competitive period) psychophysiological stimulation had the maximum impact (on the performance results of the competition). Under these conditions, the influence of traditional recreation was minor.

Thus, although the effectiveness of all the types of recreation under study is decreasing in terms of the onsetting fatigue, this fatigue is hardly related to psychophysiological stimulation. Basing on the last-mentioned, we can state that, with the onsetting fatigue, this type of recreation is getting more important.

The research conducted right after the competitive load (10 km freestyle race) displayed the multidirectional dynamics of rehabilitation functions by the heart rate indices in the groups of examined athletes. For instance, in the experimental group the heart rate indices reduced by 10.4±1.7% right after the 10 km freestyle race. The fully restored heart rate was registered in the experimental group 15-22 hours later.

Table 2. Major competition results of racing skiers aged 14-16 years in terms of intense competitive activity

Upon completion of the race, the heart rate fall in the control group was not as critical as in the experimental group. At the same time, 5 hours after the race the heart rate in the control group decreased significantly (by 2,6±3,8%) as compared to the experimental group. A partial restoration of the heart rate was registered in the control group within 15-22 hours. Their performance restored to the full only in 26-28 hours, after-effects of competitive load (Fig.1).

The analysis of the heart rate indices obtained after intense competitive activity shows that rehabilitation of those in the control group, where psychophysiological stimulation was not applied, was the most long-lasting and delayed. Upon implication of psychocorrection in the experimental group, the degree of intensity in heart rate turns out to be closer to qualitative rehabilitation.

In order to evaluate mental capacity after competitive load, the Burdon attention test was applied. Based on the mean-group values of the time needed to pass the test, we can draw the following conclusion. During the first hours of rehabilitation, the athletes from the control group displayed a decreased performance efference, in the subsequent hours of rehabilitation the time needed to accomplish the task did not change, however, the number of errors grew. The rehabilitation process of the athletes from the experimental group ran faster, according to heart rate indices, and performance efference also tended to increase. During the first hours of rehabilitation, the racing skiers from this group coped with the task faster than the athletes from the experimental group, i.e. in the midst of the onsetting fatigue.

Fig. 1. Changes in heart rate of racing skiers aged 14-16 years after competitive load (10 km distance, freestyle)

The findings of the conducted research suggest that the brain of an athlete, who has undergone the psychophysiological stimulation, has better reactivity and working capacity as compared to the rest of the athletes. The essential rehabilitation feature is the ability to maintain a high level of mental capacity in the midst of the onsetting fatigue, caused by intense competitive activity.

Based on the findings of the research, it can be concluded that the use of selective methods of psychocorrection after strenuous competitive loads contributes to acceleration of rehabilitation processes, improving the quality and effectiveness of self-regulation of motor actions, heart rate fall, adequate subjective evaluation of psychological state. Based on the verbal reports, survey of the athletes and monitoring of their behavior, the psychocorrection classes are followed by the immediate liberation of the muscle tone, the athletes complain of heavy legs less often, fall asleep faster and wake up in a good mood willing to train. It should be noted that this index improves along with the discipline, the athletes come to classes on time and are more attentive to the independent work at home with the inclusion of psycho-regulation methods.

The analysis of the results of the objective and subjective symptoms of post-competition stress in the athletes involved in rehabilitation unloading proves its importance and favorable impact on the stability of psychophysiological and subjective indicators.  

Conclusion. The practical application of psychophysiological stimulation during the rehabilitation period of racing skiers aged 14-16 years determined the following:

1. Traditional, well-established training methods are inappropriate in terms of the up-to-date conditions. There is a need for personalized task-oriented psychological training of an athlete. That is why modern educational and training process of racing skiers aged 14-16 years is to consider such training aspects as: specific physical, technical and tactical, physiological, psychological-educational.

2. The use of psychocorrection methods in the educational-training process of racing skiers and their impact may differ. They may strengthen the influence of physical load and restore psychological processes after competitive activity, and, consequently, contribute to the faster rehabilitation of an athlete. The use of psychocorrection methods along with the regulation of physical load orientation and constant control of self-regulation indices helps racing skiers cope better with physical load effects and overexertion during intense competitive activity.

3. Psychophysiological stimulation does not involve higher psychological processes, but provides conditions for making a conscious choice of an optimal behavioral response and for facilitation of voluntary regulation of mental functions and vegetative reactions by means of optimization of nervous processes in the cerebral cortex and eliminating the pre-conditions for functioning of the generator of pathologically intensified excitation. Goal-oriented development of brain activity (activation or retardation) enables using it for prophylactic, which enables increasing of adaptation reserves of the vitals defense mechanisms against emotional and psychosocial loads, and for optimization of adaptive behavior in the process of extreme sports activity.

Recommendations. According to the findings of the research conducted among young racing skiers, the use of psycho-regulation methods during the preliminary and restoration microcycles is reasonable if only applied along with the psychocorrective impact. The use of only one method, type of autogenic training under the given conditions of competitive training is inefficient due to the impact on an athlete's body of a wide range of the determining factors of physical and psychological nature.

While correcting the degree of pre-start emotional tension in racing skiers by typical displays of pre-start apathy, it is necessary to use a complex of methods contributing to mobilization of an athlete before the up-coming start, for instance:

* mobilizing breathing pattern with the implication of brief hyperventilation, which promotes the increase of excitability of the autonomic respiratory center;

* mobilizing psycho-muscular training with the implication of imagery patterns of "competitive spirit", and situations in which performance would be "the most successful", formation of ideas of advantage over the opponent;

* self-suggestion with the use of such target-oriented formulas as: "I am persistent and  committed to my goals", "I believe in my success", "I possess myself better and better"

* oriented distraction and switching of athlete's thoughts from possible competition results to activity process, single actions, tuning on ultimate usage of technical and tactical and physical abilities;

* keynote (rational approach) speech aimed at formation of an idea of own capabilities in an athlete, formation of dominant motivation for success.

While correcting the degree of pre-start emotional tension in athletes by typical displays of start fever it is necessary to use methods contributing to stabilization, relaxation of athletes prior to the performance start, for instance:

* relaxed breathing pattern by means of changing the respiration intervals, breath-holding in combination with successive relaxation of the main muscle groups;

* relaxation technique of psycho-muscular training with formation of the "peace mask", relieving of muscle tension;

* self-suggestion with the use of such target-oriented formulas as: "I am calm", "I control my thoughts and actions". Self-suggestion aimed at self-stabilization and coming from imagery of good shape, the opponent's frailty, low responsibility for final result;

* oriented distraction and switching of athlete's thoughts from final results of the race to preliminary training for the competition. Switching of the thoughts and attention to those images and events that cause positive emotions: reconstruction of fictitious characters, motion picture characters, sports life, pleasant and humorous scenes;

* keynote speech aimed at development in an athlete of self-confidence and good fitness.

While correcting the degree of frustration tension in athletes after competitions, it is recommended to use the following methods:

* power nap - rest with infusions aimed at qualitative rehabilitation of psychological, emotional energy and physical vigor;

* transformation and strengthening of psychological defense mechanisms in the forms of "substitution", "projection", "rationalization" with target orientation on unconscious emotional release, limitation of psychic trauma effect;

* keynote speech aimed at foregrounding of the short-term goals, eliminating the goal-result collision, dominant motivation.

References

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Corresponding author: apokin_vv@mail.ru