Athletes’ perspectives of preparation strategies in open-skill sports

Preparation strategies (i.e., pre-game rituals, pre-performance routines) have long been a topic of study in sport psychology. However, previous research has focused on closed-skill tasks and employed methodologies that make it difficult to capture athletes’ perspectives these behaviors. The purpose this was explore the perceptions open-skill athletes regarding their preparation strategies. Nineteen high-performance participated semi-structured interviews. Participants described structures functions behaviors they consider be part These findings contribute more nuanced understanding how perceive what do prepare for performance. Exploring phenomenon allowed existing theoretical representations compared lived experiences who engage them having implications coaches psychology consultants.Lay Summary: Many use help themselves perform at best. We asked 19 describe are why them. Coaches practitioners should athlete’s perspective when working establish an effective strategy.Implications practiceSport strive understand components athlete perceives strategy them.Preparation can achieve optimal physical, mental, emotional states, which differ between contexts.Preparation tied individual identities, team sports, build maintain team’s collective identity over course season.