| The rapid growth and globalization of the sport of ice hockey has made it a very popular transnational sporting activity. The need for sport specific systematic research has grown concomitantly with the demand to provide meaningful information that will contribute to both performance as well as the overall psychosocial well-being of the contemporary athlete.; In this investigation, five psychosocial inventories (CPI, TAIS, ATTI, STAI, and POMS) were administered pre- and post-season to 40 volunteer elite collegiate ice hockey players. Game performance and pre-season physiological measures were also recorded in addition to coaches' rankings of the top 22 players.; The results of the study revealed significant changes on several of the psychosocial inventories. Those measures which altered significantly included the STAI measure of State-anxiety, and the Overloaded by external stimuli and Introversion scales of the TAIS. In addition, significant changes were also noted (pre- and post-season) when the players were grouped into various classifications. These included 18 significant differences between these elite players and the norms (14 subscales of the CPI, both the State and Trait-anxiety measures of the STAI and the Confusion-Bewildement and Vigor-Activity scales of the POMS) as well as 18 significant pre- and post-season differences when grouped by position, status or rank.; In addition, Varsity players scored significantly higher than the Junior Varsity players on three of the seven physiological measures (Endurance total, Hops, and Lat pulldowns).; The results of this study revealed that significant changes in various psychosocial and psychophysiological dimensions do occur as a result of an intense and vigorous collegiate ice hockey season. As a result, these variables should be continuously monitored to insure that the full potential of each athlete is maximized. |
