The effect of relaxation and concentration on the performance of archers in Sri Lanka Army

Abstract

Archery is a mental sport, requiring high levels of attention and physical/mental relaxation. Nevertheless, our initial questionnaire survey established the fact that the status of knowledge on relaxation and concentration techniques was minimal among the study population. Present study was hence conducted to find the effect of relaxation and concentration on the performance of archers in Sri Lanka Army archery pool, using a “Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design”. An eight-week relaxation and concentration training was provided as the treatment for the experimental group consisting seven male and five female archers while the control group consisted two males and two females. Eight techniques were used in the training: breath-control and progressive relaxation for somatic relaxation; meditation for cognitive relaxation; over learn skill, imagery, non-judgmental thinking, self-talk and eye control for concentration. Pulse was assessed to find the effectiveness of relaxation. Pulse rates between the pretest and posttest showed a significant difference soon before shooting (p=0.071) as well as soon after shooting (p=0.005), indicating an increased relaxation. But when the experimental and control groups were compared at the posttest, before and after shooting the difference between pulse rates was not significant (p=0.833 and 0.651), indicating the treatment has not been responsible for increased relaxation. Although, there was no significant difference, when experimental and control group performances were compared at the posttest (p=0.1815), there was a significant difference between the performance of experimental group archers between the pretest and posttest (p=0.033). Therefore, although the relaxation has not found to be effective during this trial (compared to a small control group), it could be argued that the concentration techniques might have affected the improved performance in the experimental group. To receive more conclusive results a similar but more intense study is recommended with an extended treatment period and with larger sample sizes for both experimental and control groups, following this preliminary but pioneering study in Sri Lanka.