Самотренерство як модель ментальної, емоційної саморегуляції та самоосвіти у ветеранському спорті

In the contemporary discourse of sports sciences, veteran sport represents a unique arena where issues of physical adaptation, psychosocial well-being, and lifelong learning converge. Athletes aged 39–56 often continue training outside formal educational and coaching structures, facing age-related physiological and motivational barriers that require innovative approaches to self-regulation. Within this context, self-coaching has been conceptualized as a pedagogical and psychological model integrating bodily awareness, emotional resilience, and reflective cognition, enabling athletes to sustain performance and health over time. The study aimed to substantiate self-coaching as an effective model of mental and emotional self-regulation and self-education in veteran sport, and to evaluate its impact on anxiety and perceived stress levels among older judo practitioners. The research involved 48 veteran judo athletes (24 men and 24 women) aged 39-56 years who trained in the United States. Standardized psychological testing (PSS-10, GAD-7) was applied at two stages: before and after 10-12 months of systematic self-coaching practice. Additionally, methods of pedagogical observation, narrative analysis, expert evaluation, and statistical processing (SPSS v.27) were employed. Ethical principles of voluntary participation and confidentiality were upheld. Findings demonstrated a significant reduction in anxiety (GAD-7: from 11.2 to 6.4; p < 0.01) and perceived stress (PSS-10: from 19.6 to 13.8; p < 0.05). The most pronounced improvements were observed in the 45-49 age group. Athletes who combined physical training routines with reflective journaling and self-monitoring reported enhanced emotional stability, motivation, and awareness of training loads. The self-coaching model was shown to integrate three core components: bodily-kinesthetic (load awareness, injury prevention), psycho-affective (emotional regulation, motivational support), and cognitive-analytical (self-monitoring, journaling, goal-setting). Self-coaching can be regarded as an effective model of sustainable self-regulation and informal education in veteran sport. By strengthening autonomy, resilience, and reflective practice, it contributes to maintaining mental health, promoting body awareness, and enhancing self-support capacities. These findings highlight the potential for integrating self-coaching into veteran physical education, judo training methodology, and rehabilitation programs aimed at long-term athlete well-being.