The Pre-competition and Competition Practices of Canadian Aboriginal Elite Athletes
in Journal of Clinical Sport PsychologyClick name to view affiliation
This study was designed to elucidate the pre-competition and competition practices of elite Canadian Aboriginal athletes. Elite Canadian Aboriginal athletes (N = 23) participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were segmented into meaning units by academic and Aboriginal community-appointed members, and verified with each respondent individually through mail and a password-protected website. Competition tactics were divided into three chronological stages, each with specific athlete strategies: (a) general training before competitions, (b) pre-competition week, and (c) competition strategies. The majority of the numerous strategies they reported could be considered as reflecting native traditions, appropriate attitudes/perspective, or standard sport psychology techniques. Suggestions are proposed for applied researchers and practitioners working with cultural populations, as well as how these strategies might be developed for use with other populations.
Schinke, Michel, Danielson, and Pickard are with Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6. E-mail: rschinke@laurentian.ca. Hanrahan is with the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. D. and M. Peltier, Pheasant, and Enosse are with Wikwemikong First Nation Unceded Indian Reserve, Wikwemikong, ON P0P 2J0.
© 2023 Human Kinetics