Re-adaptation of junior athletes to competitive activity after a forced break

Abstract

This study aims to perform a theoretical and empirical analysis to identify psychological factors, establish key correlations, and determine the differences in junior athletes’ re-adaptation to competitive activity after a forced break. Methods: The research involved 36 junior athletes from both individual and team sports, representing sports schools for children and youth – “LSSCY Enerhetyk” (Lviv, Ukraine), “SSSYOR №1” (Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine), and junior academies of professional football and handball clubs from Kherson and Mykolaiv. A forced break in competitive activity was the primary criterion for participant selection. Valid and reliable psycho-diagnostic tools, previously tested in sports studies, were employed. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed in the re-adaptive capacity parameters across the examined junior samples. An algorithm for creating a profile to assess junior athletes’ ability to re-adapt is proposed. It considerably simplifies the management of recovery process and is capable of increasing the accuracy of planning competitive activities. It was established that the following parameters are the most dependent parameters of re-adaptation (three correlations for each): “adaptability”, “acceptance of others” and “internality”. The most dependent coping strategies (five correlations for each) are as follows: “problem-solving planning” and “escape–avoidance”. It was explained that the strongest direct correlation of “internality” with the coping strategy “problem-solving planning” (rs = .549; p <.001) testifies that the efforts made by the re-adapting individual have the greatest re-adapting effect. It was found that the opposite effect is in the correlation between “emotional comfort” and the coping strategy “escape–avoidance” (rs =-.525; p = .001) which is the most undesirable combination at the stage of re-adaptation. Discussion and conclusions. It was substantiated that juniors’ re-adaptation to competitive activity after a forced break is the return of athletes to active training and competitive processes in order to resume a sporting career. It was noted that the comparison of two groups with low and high levels of the parameters of re-adaptation confirmed that adaptive capacity and internal orientation towards problem-solving is the most effective combination of juniors’ competences at the stage of re-adaptation to competitive activity after a forced break. It was summarized that re-adaptation is an important scientific problem in research into sporting activities which requires empirical study and implementation of effective practices in sporting activities.