【Abstract】
The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of a 22-weekmental management program (MMP) to water polo players on theirpsychological ability and cognition for their team performance. Thesubjects were nineteen members of a high school water polo team (meanage of 15.7±0.81). The MMP consists of a training course, a drill inimagery and concentration, a check list of mental control duringcompetition, an interview with players and a coach, and a dailytraining log. The subjects' psychological ability was examined by useof DIPCA.2 (Diagnostic Inventory of Psychological-Competitive Abilityfor Athletes) , composed of twelve scales, which are classified intofive factors ; competitive motivation, mental stability andconcentration, confidence, strategy, and cooperation. The cognitionfor the team was examined by SPTT (Sport Psychological Test forTeams), composed of three factors ; the estimation of ability of theteam, reliance on the coach, and relationship among the players.These test were administered to the subjects at the start and the endof the MMP. The subjects' psychological processes over the programperiod were assessed in detail by case studies on records ofinterviews and logs. There were significant differences in ninescales of psychological-competitive ability and the estimation ofability of the team, and reliance on the coach between before andafter the MMP. Case studies also showed that the subjects' mentalityduring competition was improved. These results suggested that the MMPwas effective for water polo players.