Abstract

PURPOSE This study aimed to develop and implement a customized mental plan program to facilitate an optimal psychological state and peak performance among para shooting athletes. It also sought to empirically verify this program’s psychological effects by focusing on improvements in concentration, confidence, and relaxation. METHODS A total of six para shooting athletes who had earned medals in the Paralympic Games underwent six program sessions that were designed and implemented based on attention-related psychological factors identified through open-ended surveys and in-depth interviews. RESULTS The athletes’ attention was facilitated by task-focused behavior, breathing control, performance routines, and physical condition management. Meanwhile, their concentration was hindered by task-irrelevant thoughts, negative physical states, and external distractions. These factors were further categorized according to competition phase: the day before, precompetition, and during competition. Based on the statistical analysis, significant improvements were observed in the athletes’ concentration, confidence, and relaxation. CONCLUSIONS The custom program was practically effective as an intervention for psychological skills tailored to experienced para shooting athletes’ individual needs. The findings offer valuable insights for developing strategies supporting the psychological states of athletes in disabled sports.