Athletes to gain from psychologist

By ISAAC LIRI
ATHLETICS PNG will receive the services of a sports psychologist to help the team prepare for this year’s Pacific Games, says head coach Dior Lowry.
Lowry said University of Queensland associate professor and sports psychologist Stephanie Hanrahan, pictured, would be coming to the National Sports Institute, Goroka next week.
Lowry said Hanrahan was an experienced psychologist who was attached to the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Science and the School of Psychology at UOQ.
Hanrahan was also heavily involved with Team PNG and PNGOC at last year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
“I have actually been trying to get a sports psychologist to work with our athletes since November, 2017 and now I am glad that the Olympic Committee has engaged Professor Hanrahan for the Commonwealth Games and continued the relationship as we need that for our athletes and coaches,” Lowry said.
“In a camp setting where the emphasis is on fun, activities and relationship building, things like anxiety, physical fitness comparisons, the amount of time to elevate fitness affects athletes psychologically and that’s why it’s important to have a psychologist in camp.
“Sports psychologists play a vital role in helping athletes in their preparation for events and I believe that it will make a difference as we get ready for our selection trials this month and next month.”
Athletics PNG will be having their first selection trials this weekend at NSI and the final selection trials will be held in Kimbe, West New Britain, next month.
Lowry plans on taking a total of 52 athletes to the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa.