Vol 14, Issue 1, No 2, July 2026

Bridging the Gap: A Needs Analysis for the Development of a Psychological Skills Training (PST) Module for Rugby Coaches in Malaysia

Ahmad Effendy Abdul Razak, Shahrulfadly Rustam, Mohar Kassim, Ahmad Fadzlee Ahmad Idriss, & Ahmad Bisyri Husin Musawi Maliki

Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia

DOI : http://doi.org/10.47836/mohe.14.1.02

ABSTRACT

The integration of Psychological Skills Training (PST) into coach education has received increasing attention in applied sport psychology. However, its application remains limited within Malaysian rugby coaching contexts. This gap highlights the need for a structured, coach- centred psychological training framework that can strengthen coaches’ psychological literacy and improve athlete development. This study explores the need for and conceptual development of a Psychological Skills Training (PST) module tailored to Malaysian rugby coaches. Specifically, it aims to identify key psychological skill components, examine challenges in implementing PST principles, and determine the features of a contextually relevant and practical training module. A qualitative exploratory needs analysis was conducted through semi-structured interviews involving five purposively selected expert informants, comprising experienced national-level rugby coaches and sport psychology specialists. Data were analysed inductively using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase thematic analysis framework, guided by the Design and Development Research (DDR) model. Preliminary findings indicate a clear need for a structured PST module tailored to the Malaysian rugby coaching environment. Six core psychological components were identified as priority elements for inclusion: goal setting, self-confidence, concentration, self-talk, imagery, and breathing regulation. Participants further highlighted limited formal psychological training resources, resulting in fragmented and inconsistent application of PST-related practices. In addition, alignment between psychological training, athlete developmental stage, and coaching context emerged as an important design consideration. To our knowledge, this study provides the first preliminary coach- centred PST framework tailored specifically to Malaysian rugby coaching. The findings offer an empirical foundation for culturally grounded coach education and contribute to the broader development of context-sensitive applied sport psychology practice in Southeast Asia.

Keywords: Psychological Skills Training (PST), psychological literacy, rugby coaching, coach education, needs analysis, sport psychology, Malaysia, qualitative research, module development