Investigate the effects of Neuro-Linguistic Programming on University Level Novice Archery Players’ Performance

Abstract

Over the past two decades, there has been a growing recognition of the psychological dimensions of sport, particularly the influence of athletes’ mental states on performance outcomes. Though Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) has been utilized with great success in business and clinical environments, its use in sport, particularly in sport involving skills, has not yet been reported. The current study sought to investigate the influence of Neuro-Linguistic Programming on the performance of novice female archery players at the university level. Using an experimental study design, the study utilized a 12-week intervention program. The volunteers were divided into experiment and control groups, both of which received a pre-test with a normal benchmarking instrument. The experiment group was taught NLP, whereas the control group went through standard training procedures. Upon completion of the intervention, both groups were assessed using the Archery Skill Precision Test (ASPT). Findings revealed a statistically significant improvement in the performance of the experimental group compared to the control group. The results suggest that Neuro-Linguistic Programming may enhance athletic performance by strengthening key psychological factors such as concentration, self-confidence, and motivation.