THE INFLUENCE OF STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES ON STUDENT ATHLETES PERFORMANCE AMONG SOCCER PLAYERS IN BENIN METROPOLIS

This research investigated the stress management techniques, sports performance of student athletes among soccer players in Benin Metroplis. A correlation survey research design was employed in the study, five research questions were made in the study and four hypothesis were formulated. A sample of 135 soccer players were selected by multistage sampling procedure. The Instrument was validated by three experts, two from Department of Human Kinetics and sports science and one expert from the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counseling Psychology, all from the University of Benin. The Split-half method of reliability was used and a reliability index of 0.78 was obtained.
Data was analyzed using Descriptive statistics of Frequency units and Percentages while Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to analyzed the hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between stress relaxation technique and student- athlete sports performance, stress cognitive restructuring technique and student- athlete sports performance, stress exercise technique and student- athlete sports performance, stress goal setting technique and student- athlete sports performance. It was concluded that there is a significant relationship between stress management techniques and student- athlete sports performance. It was therefore recommended that sports psychologist should be attached to student- athlete to help manage their stress.