THE EFFECTS OF SARS-COV-2 PANDEMIC IN SPORT TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING OF YOUNG BASKETBALL ATHLETES IN CZ
Abstract
The coronavirus pandemic is affecting the whole sports world, including young athletes who are being prevented from actively participating in training and competitions. The purpose of this paper is to understand, from the athlete's perspective, the effects of government restrictions in sport due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on their psychological wellbeing.
This study uses a qualitative approach to interview eight basketball athletes from Czechia, ages from 13 to 19 years old, with at least one boy and one girl from each level group. Athletes refer to changes in daily routines, identify different emotions in each stage of the development of the pandemic situation, and refer to some coping strategies that they were able to use to face this situation.
The practical implications of this research suggest recommendations of specific strategies considering emergencies to improve psychological wellbeing in young athletes.