Conceptual framework of factors affecting performance of military pentathlon

    SUN Yunª²Feng, LI Yunª²Bo, MIAO Danª²Min, DENG Yunª²Long, ZHANG Haiª²Zhong, HE Kai

    1Department of Psychology, School of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China, 2Institute of Scientific Research, Military Sports Group, Beijing 100072, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To gain a better understanding of the factors affecting military pentathlon performance. METHODS: Four military pentathlon coaches and 12 athletes were interviewed using an inª²depth, openª²ended and structured approach. Three investigators recorded tapes, transcribed and analyzed the contents. RESULTS: Major factors perceived to have influenced the performance included psychological factors (psychological quality, mood, mental skill, intelligence, moral quality and attitude towards game), physical factors (training, physical quality, injury, potentials at sport and age), social factors (coaches, support staff and social expectation), environmental factors (playing field, climate, housing, sleep and time difference) and integrated factors (plan of competitive preparation, experience of competition and luck). CONCLUSION: There were various positive and negative factors influencing the performance. It is essential to recognize the complex nature of the controllable and uncontrollable psychological and nonª²psychological factors that can influence the military pentathlon performance. ......