Abstract:

Aim: In an environment where all major sporting events are either canceled or postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is to investigate the process change effects on wrestling national team athletes. Method: Qualitative research technique was used in this study. Interviews were conducted by telephone in the pandemic process due to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus and to prevent the participants' health. The group of the research consists of 30 athletes, 15 of whom are women and 15 of them are selected by the purposeful sampling method studying at the wrestlıng natıonal team athletes. A descriptive and content analysis method was used to analyze the data. According to the data obtained from the athletes' own opinions for the effects of the pandemic process on wrestling national team athletes preparing for international competitions; 2 themes have been determined in the form of positive effects and negative effects. These 2 themes are then categorized and each category has an opinion. Findings: Looking at the answers given to the questions, it was revealed that the athletes were both positively and negatively affected by the process. As a positive contribution to the process; we can consider athletes to spend more time with themselves and their families. Again, due to the lack of preparation for international matches due to the presence of some athletes’ injury, and therefore the failure to go to matches have been positive results in terms of the treatment process and recovery process. The negative aspects of the process are; the uncertainty, success rate and experience of situations, such as the date of realization of organizations and the conditions under which opponents in the international arena are training, leads to concern in young athletes. Conclusion: Due to the pandemic process, national team camps and training were canceled, so the athletes trained at home within their own means, but unfortunately, this was inadequate. Especially because wrestling sport is with a partner sport, it is an important problem that athletes cannot find partners in this process and cannot train technically. Due to unscheduled, uncertainty and irregularity, most athletes have deteriorated sleep and nutrition patterns. It can be said that the role of the state, the relevant institutions, coaches and the measures taken are quite important in addressing the training deficiencies of the athletes and ensuring their health. Keywords: Pandemic, Covid–19, Wrestling National Team Athletes

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