Lockdown measures introduced to deal with the spread of the virus have disrupted the training regimes of most athletes, while many have also seen competitions or important dates postponed. Keeping motivation as an athlete in these circumstances can be difficult, and the uncertainty may lead to mental health challenges. Dr Jamie Barker is a BPS sport and exercise psychologist working within premier league football who said: "There are many psychological issues that have been raised as a result of the lockdown including players confidence in their body and their level of skill refinement. When you are used to kicking a ball around every day and then you don`t have anyone to kick a ball around with these kinds of mental questions can easily creep in. Especially now coming back into training, many players may be overly concerned about regaining their sense of confidence". The guidance encourages athletes to focus on what is within their control during this period of disruption, to maintain a sense of perspective, and accept that some feelings of stress and anxiety are normal, particularly in the current situation.
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