Psychological preparation has taken on a crucial role in today’s sports practice. Effective resolutions to the challenges inherent in athletes’ psychological preparation require a comprehensive understanding of the key components that constitute the psychological preparation process. This quasi-experimental study aims to first, assess the interrelationships among imagery abilities, physical self-efficacy, and sport performance among a sample of alpine skiers. Secondly, this study sought to assess the effect of a psychological intervention on imagery and self-efficacy, and its impact on their task performance. The proposed hypothesis suggests that integrating imagery and self-efficacy interventions into the training process of alpine skiers will enhance athletes’ achievements on the slalom ski track. Seven leading Latvian youth alpine skiers with an average age of M = 17.14 (SD = 1.77) participated in a three-month psychological skill intervention targeting imagery and self-efficacy enhancement, alongside control training sessions on a slalom ski track to evaluate its effectiveness on sport performance. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using questionnaires, revealing significant improvements in imagery abilities and self-efficacy (p < 0.05). Notably, positive interrelationships between imagery abilities, self-efficacy, and sport performance were observed. These findings underscore the efficacy of integrating psychological interventions into the athlete training process and highlight the importance of psychological readiness in optimizing athletic achievements, particularly in dynamic sports like alpine skiing. The study results provide novel theoretical and practical psychological insights into the training process of athletes in sports.

Introduction: Imagery as a psychological skill in sports occupies an essential place in the psychological preparation of athletes and is one of the key factors in realizing an athlete’s potential in competitive sports. It’s role in athlete performance, as well as the differences in its use across various sports and demographic groups, has been a compelling topic in both sports’ science and psychology. This topic has remained relevant in recent years.Aim: This quantitative survey-based and experimental design study aims to first, to determine whether differences in imagery ability profiles, identified through cluster analysis, can characterize differences among athletes with varying levels of athletic achievement. A secondary aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of a guided imagery intervention on imagery abilities and athletic performance.Methods: A total of 500 athletes from different sports, aged M = 21.01 (SD = 2.82), both male and female, completed the Sport Imagery Ability Questionnaire (SIAQ) and provided information regarding their demographics and athletic achievements. In the experimental part of the study, nine alpine skiers were selected to participate in a six-month guided imagery intervention alongside their regular trainings on the ski track to assess the intervention’s impact on performance.Results: The results of K-means cluster analysis on athletic achievements of athletes showed a four-cluster solution that hat emphasized distinctions between the groups and reduced variation within each group. A Multiple Analysis of Covariance revealed that the four cluster groups differ in their imagery abilities. Pre- and post-intervention assessments for the nine alpine skiers were conducted using SIAQ and control training sessions, revealing significant increase in both imagery ability scores and performance indicators (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The research results support recent findings that athletes with higher athletic achievement tend to have stronger imagery abilities. The significant differences observed between the clusters based on athletic achievement levels were confirmed. By using imagery profiling of athletes with an analytical method, this study provides valuable insights into the role of imagery in athletic success, suggesting that tailored imagery training could enhance performance across different levels of athletic achievement.

Background/Objectives: This study addresses the growing interest in nutritional supplements that improve athletic performance in endurance sports. Previous research suggests that nitrates in beetroot juice enhance blood vessel dilation and oxygen delivery to muscles. However, the effects of these nitrates on cardiopulmonary performance in female athletes remain underexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of beetroot juice supplementation on aerobic work capacity in female endurance athletes. Methods: A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) was conducted to assess aerobic work capacity. Eighteen healthy female endurance athletes (22.9 ± 5.6 years) participated in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group (placebo group n = 9), which received a nitrate-free placebo beverage, and the experimental group (beetroot juice group n = 9), which consumed 50 mL of beetroot juice concentrate (~6.2 mmol nitrate) two and a half hours before the second test. Results: The results showed that the beetroot juice group demonstrated significant improvements in minute ventilation (VE), respiratory equivalents (VE/VO₂ and VE/VCO₂), and heart rate (HR) (p < 0.05). Maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max) increased by 4.82% in the beetroot juice group (from 35.24 ± 5.07 to 36.94 ± 4.91 mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹), whereas a small decrease was observed in the placebo group. Conclusions: These findings indicate that beetroot juice may be an effective ergogenic aid, enhancing oxygen utilization and energy production during exercise in female athletes. In terms of practical applications, beetroot juice could contribute to improved athletic performance and serve as a valuable addition to athletes’ nutritional plans. Future studies should explore the long-term effects, optimal dosages, and duration of supplementation in larger and more diverse populations.

While the role of safe riding behavior as a safety contributor for cyclists has been increasingly studied in recent years, there have been few studies analyzing cycling behavior in relation to crash-related outcomes. Indeed, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time this issue has been addressed in the case of Latvia. Aim: The objective of this study was to assess the relationships among self-reported cyclists’ behavior, traffic safety literacy, and their cycling crash involvement rates. Method: A total of 299 cyclists aged M = 32.8 from across Latvia participated in an online survey, which included questions regarding respondents’ demographics, frequency of riding, cycling behaviors, and the number of crashes in the previous five years. The Cycling Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ) and the Cyclist Risk Perception and Regulation Scale (RPRS) were applied to assess cyclists’ behavior patterns and traffic safety literacy. Results: According to the findings, it can be inferred that cyclists frequently engage in riding errors and traffic violations while cycling. Those who exhibit more anti-social behavior (such as traffic violations and riding errors) patterns are also more likely to be involved in road crashes. Conversely, cyclists with greater positive behavior rates more often also tend to possess better knowledge of traffic rules and exhibit a heightened risk perception, indicating a greater awareness of road traffic safety. Conclusions: This study underscores key age differences, with older individuals significantly less involved in riding crashes, exhibiting fewer driving errors and a higher level of risk perception, which serves as a relevant factor in road safety. At the practical level, these results stress the need to address both traffic safety literacy and protective cycling factors of cyclists, to improve overall road safety and promote active transport modes in Latvia.

Background and objective: Psychological skills are critical for high achievement and elite sports performance. However, there remains a lack of valid, reliable, and accessible instruments adapted to modern athletes. This highlights significant psychometric challenges in the existing tools currently available. While the Psychological Skills Inventory for Sport (PSIS-R5) is a commonly used tool in sports psychology worldwide, it has demonstrated various psychometric issues over time. A previous adaptation to the Latvian sports environment highlighted specific challenges in the Latvian context. It is important to note that these issues are not unique to the Latvian adaptation. A comprehensive review is necessary to address these broader psychometric concerns and ensure the instrument’s suitability for contemporary athletes, including those in Latvia. Moreover, the adaptation process may offer insights and methodological guidance for similar efforts in other cultural contexts. The aims of this research were twofold: first, to review and adapt the PSIS-R5 for use in Latvia (PSIS-R5-L), ensuring its validity and reliability; and second, to assess the applicability of the PSIS-R5-L in elite sports settings by examining relationships between athletes’ achievement levels and psychological skills. Methods: A total of 444 Latvian athletes aged between 18–43 (M = 21.32; SD = 6.52) completed the PSIS-R5 inventory to assess their psychological skills. The PSIS-R5 was re-translated into Latvian language (PSIS-R5-L) using forward-backward translation. Additionally, five sports psychologists participated in the study, providing evaluations of elite athletes’ psychological skills using the PSIS-R5 inventory. Results: Series of Principal Components Analyses (PCA) were conducted to explore and validate the structure of the Latvian revisited adaptation of the PSIS-R5-L. As a result, a stable four-factor structure was obtained, consisting of 17 items with satisfactory fit indices (CFI = 0.968, RMSEA = 0.045 [90% CI: 0.034, 0.057], SRMR = 0.026). The findings indicate that the Latvian adapted PSIS-R5-L has appropriate psychometric properties, confirming its suitability for use in the Latvian sports environment. Comparisons between different athlete groups (elite, pre-elite, and amateur) revealed several correlations and statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences in psychological skills. Conclusions: The PSIS-R5-L is a psychometrically robust and practically valuable tool for assessing athletes’ psychological skills in Latvia. It offers coaches, sports psychologists, and practitioners an evidence-based instrument to evaluate and enhance mental skills across different athlete populations, supporting psychological preparation programs in both elite and amateur sports settings.

Sports performance is shaped by the interaction of various factors, including the athlete’s personality, psychological skills and psychophysiological performance. The aim of this study was to develop a multi-factorial profile of athletes, combining personality traits, psychological skills and psychophysiological performance indicators. An additional aim was to investigate the differences between team and individual sports athletes and at different levels of achievements. A total of 304 (female and male) athletes completed standardized assessments of personality traits, psychological skills and psychophysiological performance, including reaction time, stress tolerance, impulsivity, decisiveness and performance consistency. Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences between athletes taking into account the type of sport (individual vs. team), as well as the level of sport (elite, pre-elite, amateur). Cluster analysis identified four distinct athlete multi-factorial profiles. Qualitative validation by an expert panel confirmed that these profiles reflect recognizable athlete types in real training and competition contexts, providing recommendations for the implementation of practical interventions. Integrating personality, psychological skills, and psychophysiological performance indicators provides a comprehensive understanding of how athletes perform under different performance demands. These four multi-factorial profiles offer a practical framework for individual training, psychological preparation, and identification of potential risks.