Don't pressure athletes too much: Psychologist

Don't pressure athletes too much: Psychologist

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's athletes for the 19th SEA Games
should perform all out but not push themselves too hard, a
psychology professor said yesterday.

Singgih D. Gunarsa, psychology professor and chairman of the
Games psychology team, said athletes carried with them their own
pressure to perform when they competed in events.

"They already have a burden, let's not make it heavier," he
said.

Singgih said the field or court was the athlete's kingdom and
they must not be influenced by other people in their domain.

"They have to act as if they were king during the match," he
said.

The psychology team consists of 17 experts; three from the
Army, three from the Police Force and the rest from universities,
including Jakarta's University of Indonesia and Tarumanegara
University, Bandung's Padjadjaran University and Surabaya's
Airlangga University.

Singgih said the athletes had been preparing mentally for the
Games since November 1996 and this had intensified for the event
which begins Oct. 11 and ends Oct. 19.

"There are two main programs ... The first is the progressive
relaxation training program which consists of respiration
relaxation, concentration relaxation and improving motivation
relaxation. The purpose is to control their emotions to reduce
pressure," he said.

"The second is a visualization program in which athletes are
trained to use their imagination to think of what they'll do
during the match."

Psychologist Myrna Sukasah said that at the start of national
training, which started on Nov. 1, 1996, many athletes had to
deal with feelings of insecurity.

"They felt insecure because they were worried about joining
the Games squad and about their study or jobs," she said.

"These problems influenced their performances until the final
selection early this month," she said.

Earlier, the Games organizers competition department deputy
Muhammad Sarengat said 1,041 gold medals, 1,041 silver medals and
1,200 bronze medals were being made.

The Games have 440 golds, 440 silvers and 558 bronzes on offer
in 34 events.

Sarengat said the organizers would try hard not to have teams
or individuals sharing the winning spots. "Tie breaks must be
used to decide the real winner."

The organizers will tutor 966 referees, linesman and drug
testing officials before the Games.

There will be 84 referees from non-participating countries,
465 national referees, 284 participating countries' referees, 41
technical delegates, 89 jury of appeal members and three medical
jury members.

Sarengat expects all 10 participating countries will arrive
for the event and all entered athletes will compete. (yan)