Analysis of Psychological skills and Sports Performance of Club Hockey Players In North East Zone, Nigeria

This study was designed to analyze the Relationship of psychological skills against sports performance of club Hockey Players in North-East Zone, Nigeria. Two objectives were set, two research questions answered; and two hypotheses tested. The study utilized Carl Roger's theory of personality grew out of his client-centered approach to psychotherapy and behavior change. The study adopted Survey Research Method. Survey research is used for descriptive, exploratory and explanatory purposes. The population for this study comprised all club Hockey players from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states. Each state was represented by 36club Hockey players comprising 18 male and 18 female. Quota sampling technique was used to select a sample of 180 club Hockey Players consisting of 90 male and 90 female. Research instrument used for the study was a 30-item self-developed Questionnaire and the statement were derived from literature in cognizance with the objectives of the study. These items constitute information on the demographic data of the respondents, information on flow; the performance is determined through a winning of matches which attract three (3) points. A draw attract (1) point while a loss attracts no point. Results showed that there was a Significant Relationship between Psychological skill and sport performance among club Hockey Players in North-East Zone, Nigeria. While there was no significant difference psychological skills and sport performance among male and female club Hockey players in North-East Zone, Nigeria. It was therefore concluded that psychological skills are positively related to sport performance that the higher the psychological skills, the higher the performance among club Hockey players in North-East Zone, Nigeria, and it was also recommended that self-concept is independent of performance, coaches should therefore be aware that self-concept is not a hindrance to sport performance among club Hockey Players in North-East Zone, Nigeria and should therefore not placed too much emphasize on it. Keywords: Psychological Skills, Sports Performance, Flow State, Hockey Players, Gender Differences