Author(s)

Mohammad Maleki, Sardar Mohammadi, Ali Nazarian

University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

This study aimed to compare mental skills between superior basketball players and gymnasts. Subjects included 161 basketball players (91 experienced: aged 22.47 ± 2.27, and 70 inexperienced, aged 23.13 ± 2.2) and 114 gymnasts (66 experienced; aged 22.77 ± 2.03 and 48 inexperienced, aged 22.79 ± 2.25). The questionnaire used for this study was OMSAT-3 that assessed mental skills in three main categories of foundation mental skills, psychosomatic skills and cognitive skills. Results showed significant differences between elite and sub-elite basketball players and gymnasts in basic mental skills, psychosomatic skills and cognitive skills. These results will help coaches and athletes to improve their performance and consolidate and expand the use of mental skills they need for each competition in closed and open sport skills.

Mental Skills, Basketball, Gymnasts, Experience

Maleki, M. , Mohammadi, S. and Nazarian, A. (2014) The Difference of Mental Skills in Superior Basketball Players and Gymnasts with Different Levels of Experience. Open Access Library Journal, 1, 1-7. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1100591.