Sports Psychology and Mental Health during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract This article analyzes the relation between mental health and sports, exercise and/or physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in Brazil. Based in two epistemologically different perspectives in psychology, results from objective measurement instruments are articulated with world experiences. It is argued that bodily practices are the means and the ends of health, both because of the predictable beneficial organic effects, according to the state of the art in the sciences of physical activity, and because of the possibility of engagement in the world through self-forgetfulness. Based on the resulting energy expenditure, anxiety control and well-being, adopting regular physical exercises in confinement periods provides the practitioner with a ritual and metabolic criteria to restore time and space parameters in a routine. However, such activities also present some risks depending on how they are carried out, which is a challenge both for those who experience them and for professionals in Sport Psychology, whether in the context of high performance or recreational activities. Understanding the nuances of sports practices and the particularities of these individuals is essential to address appropriate care. It should be noted that this field is not limited to notable sporting activities, but involves the most diverse body, cultural and movement practices. (AU)