The Application of Cinema Therapy to Mental Training as an Example of Digitalization in Sports

Abstract

Thanks to the rapid change and development of technological opportunities in sports, training can be carried out in an electronic environment and with electronic tools. Among these tools, we can mention a desktop computer, a printer, a scanner, a projection device, a smart phone, a portable computer also called as laptop, glasses for simulation, and a wearable measuring device such as a polar clock. Through these tools, it is also easier to evaluate the educational activity performed.

Digital sports can be defined as sports that are produced, performed and evaluated in an electronic environment. In this context, digital sports means changing and transforming all kinds of modern information about sports, scientific and philosophical views, theories and concepts related to technology. Digital sports, which contains more than one understanding of sports and technical narration about sports, questions the interaction of the sportsperson with his environment and technology, especially with himself.

Therefore, a digital sport, as in every newly developing perspective on sports, is supported in a broad context by long-term studies that select multiple perspectives. One of these studies is mental training study in which the basic principles of cinema therapy are applied. Mental training is one of the trainings made using technological opportunities in sports. This training is carried out by making sports people, especially athletes, watch movies or scenes from movies, in line with the principles of cinema therapy, with the help of a computer and a projection device.

The main purpose of this study is to consider cinema therapy in mental (psychosocial) training education as an example of digitalization in sports. As a data collection method, the data compiled were blended from sources in different fields such as digital technology, sociology, psychology, sports sociology, sports psychology and psychiatry. It is thought that this study, which is one of the rare studies on the subject, will be an example for similar studies in the future.