The role of offensive processes and age development for female soccer players' anticipation.

Anticipation has been confirmed as a more valid measure for recognizing talented athletes than pattern recall alone. Anticipation of offensive processes in soccer, such as counter attacks and positional attacks, is essential for the sport. Additionally, the anticipation of elements such as the soccer ball, offensive and defensive players may also be affected by varied offensive processes. In this study, we combined anticipation with the pattern recall paradigm to measure the perceptual-cognitive skills of female soccer players across different age groups and offensive processes. Adult (U23) and adolescent (U15) female soccer players were recruited to complete the pattern anticipation task using coach-rated video segments. Our results show that adult female soccer players demonstrated greater accuracy in anticipating locations during positional attacks compared to adolescents, but no significant difference was observed during counter attacks. Furthermore, location anticipation accuracy is higher in all groups towards elements of the soccer ball and offensive players, but not defensive players, during counter attacks compared to positional attacks. These findings suggest that positional attack is the main advantage in perceptual-cognitive skills for adult female soccer players. Additionally, offensive processes and elements should be carefully considered when measuring perceptual-cognitive skills.

Professional soccer players perceptions of the English Football Association 4 corner model in supporting first team transitions.

The English Football Association (FA from hereon in) 4 Corner Model is a multidisciplinary framework that aims to enhance player talent identification and development, and is characterised by physical, social, technical/tactical and psychological components. Despite the framework being prominent within English football development pathways, player insights into the effectiveness of the framework in supporting academy to first team transitions are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore established first team professional footballer's perceptions of the FA 4 Corner Model, in relation to the attributes that they perceived to facilitate the successful transition to a professional first team environment. Twelve current (n = 8) and ex (n = 4) professional players who had successfully transitioned from a youth academy, and subsequently became an established first team player, were interviewed for the study. Interpretations across the qualitative data set highlighted the importance of players adapting to physical and tactical demands, while also dealing with different psychosocial factors when entering a first team setting. The study highlights that disparities can exist between players, coaches, practitioners, and sport scientists perceived development needs, a situation that could hinder players progression through the player pathway.

The influence of the perceived requirements of the next match and motivation on the mental fatigue of soccer players.

The high cognitive and/or emotional demands of competition can lead to a state of mental fatigue which has shown to be detrimental to soccer performance. However, there is a need to further understand the true mental demands of soccer players. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of motivation and the perceived requirements of the next match on mental fatigue perceived by soccer players over the passing of a season. The combined effect of both variables on the perception of mental fatigue, as well as the influence of the time of the season on perceived mental fatigue, were also analyzed. Twenty-six semi-professional Spanish male players (M = 26.31 ± 5.18 years) participated in the present study, conducted during the 2020-2021 season. Perceived mental fatigue and motivation were measured at each training session. The perceived requirements of the next match were also measured in each of the competitive weeks. Linear mixed models were run with R Studio to examine the influence of motivation and the perceived difficulty of the next match on perceived mental fatigue, the combined effect of both variables on perceived mental fatigue, and the influence of the passing of the season on perceived mental fatigue. The results showed a negative and significant influence of motivation on perceived mental fatigue (p < 0.001) and a positive and significant influence of the perceived requirements of the next match on perceived mental fatigue (p < 0.001). Regarding the combined effect, there was a positive and significant effect (p < 0.01) of the perceived difficulty of the next match on the relation between motivation and perceived mental fatigue. A negative influence of season passage on perceived mental fatigue levels was found (p < 0.001). We recommended coaches to consider using the most motivating training tasks when higher next-match requirements are perceived and to be careful with avoidance strategies for mental fatigue, especially at the beginning of the season.

Perfis de envolvimento parental no futebol juvenil: Um estudo com jovens atletas / Perfiles de participación de los padres en el fútbol juvenil: Un estudio con atletas jóvenes / Parental involvement profiles in football: A study with young players

Este estudo analisou as diferenças na perceção dos atletas acerca dos comportamentos parentais, considerando também a importância do escalão desportivo dos atletas. Além disso, foi analisado se diferentes perfis de envolvimento parental, segundo a avaliação dos atletas aos seus pais, correspondiam a diferenças na orientação motivacional e na perceção de rendimento dos jovens atletas. Participaram no estudo 292 atletas do sexo masculino com idades compreendidas entre os 12 e 19 anos (M = 15.0; DP = 1.5), praticantes de futebol no campeonato nacional. Foram aplicados três instrumentos, (1) Questionário de Comportamentos Parentais no Desporto; (2) Escala de Objetivos de Realização no Desporto Juvenil; (3) Questionário de Perceção de Rendimento Desportivo. Os resultados indicaram (a) diferenças na perceção de comportamentos do pai e da mãe separadamente, sendo que, a perceção dos atletas variou em função do seu escalão desportivo; e (b) a orientação motivacional e a perceção de rendimento variaram em função do perfil de envolvimento parental percebido. Em suma, os resultados demonstram a importância do envolvimento parental no desporto juvenil, devendo este fator ser considerado pelos profissionais que intervêmjunto dos jovens atletas.(AU)

Este estudio analizó las diferencias en la percepción de los atletas sobre los comportamientos de sus padres, considerando también la importancia del nivel deportivo de los atletas. Además, se analizó si los diferentes perfiles de participación de los padres, según la evaluación de los deportistas sobre sus padres, se correspondían con diferencias en la orientación motivacional y en la percepción del rendimiento de los jóvenes deportistas. Participaron del estudio 292 atletas masculinos con edades entre 12 y 19 años (M = 15,0; SD = 1,5), futbolistas del campeonato nacional. Se aplicaron tres instrumentos, (1) Cuestionario de Conductas Parentales en el Deporte; (2) Escala de Metas de Logro en Deportes Juveniles; (3) Cuestionario de Percepción del Rendimiento Deportivo. Los resultados indicaron: (a)diferencias en la percepción de los comportamientos del padre y de la madre por separado, y la percepción de los deportistas varió según su nivel deportivo; e (b)la orientación motivacional y la percepción de rendimiento varió según el perfil de participación parental percibida. En resumen, los resultados demuestran la importancia de la participación de los padres en el deporte juvenil, y este factor debe ser considerado por los profesionales que trabajan con jóvenes deportistas.(AU)

This study analysed the differences in athletes’ perception of parental behaviours, considering the importance of athletes’ age category. It was also verified if different parental involvement profiles, according to athletes’ evaluation of their parents’ behaviours, corresponded to differences in motivational orientation and in performance perception of the young athletes. The study included 292 male athletes, aged between 12 and 19 years old (M = 15.0; DP = 1.5), playing football in the national championship. Three instruments were used: (1) Parental Behaviours in Sports Questionnaire; (2) Achievement goal scale for youth sport; (3) Sport Performance Perception Questionnaire. The results indicated: (a)differences in the perception of father’s and mother’s behaviours, separately, and these differences changed according to athletes’ age category; and (b)motivational orientation and performance perception varied according to the perceived parental involvement profile. In sum, the results demonstrate the importance of parental behaviours in youth sports and this aspect should be considered by professionals who work with young athletes.(AU)

Diseño y validación del cuestionario de evaluación de la calidad percibida en la gestión deportiva del futbol femenil / Desenho e validação do questionário para avaliação da qualidade percebida na gestão esportiva do futebol feminino / Design and validation of the questionnaire for the evaluation of the perceived quality in sports management of women’s soccer

El objetivo del presente trabajo es diseñar y validar la creación del cuestionario de evaluación de la calidad percibida en la gestión deportiva del futbol femenil. El muestreo fue intencional por conveniencia, con un total de 332 jugadoras y un rango de edad de entre los 18 y 51 años (M= 20.92; DE= 3.59). Se llevaron a cabo análisis de validez de constructo por medio de un análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE) así como un análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) seguido de análisis de fiabilidad y varianzamedia extractada. El instrumento creado fue el GEDECAFF. Los resultados de los análisis factoriales mostraron 36 ítems divididos en 4 factores: (1) Interacción con el entrenador, (2) Instalaciones, (3) Servicio de personal e (4) Institucional; los indicadores de pertinencia fueron apropiados y explican el 76.25% de la varianza total. Los índices de ajuste, error y chi cuadrado son adecuados CFI = .90, TLI = .89 y RMSEA = .07, χ2/gl = 2.17. Los resultados muestran que Alfa de Cronbach y Omega de McDonald por factores está por encima de .90. En conclusión, el cuestionario GEDECAFF presenta las propiedades psicométricas satisfactorias y atiende las necesidades de los servicios ofrecidos por los distintos clubes, dando oportunidad a la mejora continua de la calidad del servicio en el futbol femenil.(AU)

The purpose of this study is to design and validate the creation of the questionnaire for the evaluation of theperceived quality in the sports management of women's soccer. The sampling was intentional for convenience, with a total of 332 soccer players and an age range between 18 and 51 years (M = 20.92; SD= 3.59). Construct validity analyses were carried out using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) as well as a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) followed by reliability analysis and extracted mean variance. The instrument created was the GEDECAFF. The result of the factor analysis showed 36 items divided into 4factors: (1) Interaction with a coach, (2) Facilities, (3) Personal service, and (4) Institutional; the relevance indicators were adequate, explaining 76.25% of the total variance. The fit and error indices are adequate CFI = .90, TLI = .89, and RMSEA = .07, regarding the χ2/df = 2.17. The results show that Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega by factors is above .90. In conclusion, the GEDECAFF questionnaire presents the appropriate psychometric properties and meets the needs of the services offered by the different women's soccer clubs, opening an opportunity for continuous improvement in the quality of service in women's soccer.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foivalidar a criação do questionário para avaliação da qualidade percebida na gestão desportiva do futebol feminino. A amostra foi intencional por conveniência, com um total de 332 jogadores de futebol e faixa etária entre 18 e 51 anos (M= 20.92; DP= 3.59). As análises de validade de construto foram realizadas por meio de uma análise fatorial exploratória (EFA), bem como uma análise fatorial confirmatória (CFA), seguida de análise de confiabilidade e variância média extraída. O instrumento criado foi o GEDECAFF. Os resultados das análises fatoriais mostraram 36 itens divididos em 4 fatores: (1) Interação com o formador, (2) Instalações, (3) Atendimento Pessoal e (4) Institucional; os indicadores de relevância foram adequados, explicando 76.25% da variância total. Os índices de ajuste e erro são adequados CFI = .90, TLI = .89 e RMSEA = .07, em relação ao χ2/df = 2.17. Os resultados mostram que o Alfa de Cronbach e o ômega do McDonald's por fatores estão acima de 0,90. Em conclusão, o questionário GEDECAFF apresenta as propriedades psicométricas adequadas e atende às necessidadesdos serviços oferecidos pelos diferentes clubes de futebol feminino, abrindo uma oportunidade de melhoria contínua na qualidade do serviço no futebol feminino.(AU)

Exploring Coaches' Cognitive Perception of Football Training Tasks: A Questionnaire-Based Study and Comparison with a Framework Tool for Assessing Cognitive Demands in Small-Sided Games / Exploración de la percepción cognitiva de los entrenadores sobre las tareas de entrenamiento de fútbol: un estudio basado en cuestionarios y una comparación con una herramienta marco para evaluar las demandas cognitivas en juegos reducidos / Exploração da perceção cognitiva de tarefas de treino em futebol: Estudo baseado numquestionário e comparação com uma ferramenta para avaliar e comparar as exigências cognitivas em jogos reduzidos

La función cognitiva es crucial en entornos de rendimiento competitivo debido al tipo de tareas y carga de trabajo involucradas. Sin embargo, aún se necesita determinar cómo toda la información ambiental en un entorno competitivo afecta la carga cognitiva.Por lo tanto, el objetivo fue investigar la percepción cognitiva de los entrenadores sobre las tareas de entrenamiento de fútbol, mediante el uso de un cuestionario y comparar los resultados con una herramienta de marco para evaluar las demandascognitivas en juegos reducidos. Un total de 57 entrenadores de fútbol (a nivel nacional y regional) completaron un cuestionario para calificar las demandas cognitivas percibidas de doce situaciones diferentes de juegos en espacios reducidos. Las respuestas fueron hechas por cada entrenador a partir de un conjunto de alternativas proporcionadas por los autores utilizando una escala de uso de Likert de 10 puntos. La carga cognitiva durante los juegos reducidos se calculó mediante una ecuación que incluía el número de jugadores implicados en la tarea, la superficie ocupada por cada jugador y la duración del ejercicio. Los resultados del cuestionario mostraron que los entrenadores de nivel nacional presentaron resultados de correlación más altos, mostrando una alta concordancia entre la percepción de los entrenadores y los resultados de la carga cognitiva en comparación con los entrenadores de nivel regional. La relación establecida entre todas las variables mostró que la complejidad de las tareas aumenta utilizando formatos con mayor número de jugadores, áreas pequeñas y ejercicios de mayor duración. Por lo tanto, el marco de carga cognitiva puede ser una herramienta útil y sencilla para quelos entrenadores evalúen las demandas cognitivas durante las sesiones de entrenamiento.(AU)

Cognitive function is crucial in competitive performance environments due to the type of tasks and workload involved. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate coaches’ cognitive perception of football training tasks, through the use of a questionnaire and compare the results with a framework tool to assess cognitive demands in small-sided games. A total of 57 football coaches (national and regional levels) filled out a questionnaire to rate the perceived cognitive demands of twelve different small-sidedgame situations. The answers were made by each coach from a set of alternatives supplied by the authors using a 10-point Likert use scale. The cognitive load during small-sided games was calculated using an equation that included the number of players involved in the task, the surface area occupied by eachplayer, and the duration of the exercise. The questionnaire results have shown that national-level coaches presented higher correlation results showing a high agreement between coaches' perception and the cognitive load results when compared to regional-level coaches. The relationship established between all variables showed that the complexity of tasks increases using formats with a larger number of players, small areas, and bigger duration drills. Thus, the cognitive load framework may be a useful and simple tool to coaches assess the cognitive demands during training sessions.(AU)

A função cognitiva é crucial em ambientes de desempenho competitivo devido ao tipo de tarefas e carga de trabalho envolvidas. No entanto, ainda precisa ser determinado como todas as informações ambientais em em contexto competitivo afetam a carga cognitiva. Assim, o objetivo deste estudofoi investigar a perceção cognitiva de treinadores sobre tarefas de treino de futebol, através de um questionário e comparando os resultados com um instrumento para avaliar as exigências cognitivas durante jogos reduzidos.Um total de 57 treinadores de futebol (nível nacional e regional) preencheram um questionário para avaliar as exigências cognitivas de doze situações diferentes jogos-reduzido. As respostas foram dadas por cada treinador a partir de um conjunto de alternativas fornecidas pelos autores utilizando uma escala de Likert de 10 pontos. A carga cognitiva durante pequenos jogos foi calculada através de uma equação queincluía o número de jogadores envolvidos na tarefa, a área de superfície ocupada por cada jogadore a duração do exercício. Os resultados do questionário mostraram que os treinadores de nível nacional apresentaram resultados de correlação mais elevados, mostrando uma alta concordância entre a perceção dos treinadores e os resultados de carga cognitiva em comparação com os treinadores de nível regional. A relação estabelecida entre todas as variáveis mostrou que a complexidade das tarefas aumenta utilizandoformatos com maior número de jogadores, áreas pequenas e exercícios de maior duração. Portanto, esta ferramenta para avaliar a carga cognitiva pode ser uma forma útil e simples para os treinadores avaliarem as exigências cognitivas durante as sessões de treino.(AU)

Motivational climate dimensions predict youth soccer players' psychosocial well-being over time.

OBJECTIVES: This study tested a longitudinal model of relationships, based on self-determination theory, to determine whether motivational climate dimensions predicted young athletes' psychological need satisfaction and, in turn, personal and social responsibility. DESIGN: We used a longitudinal design. METHOD: Youth soccer players (N = 161; M = 10.8 years-old, SD = 1.0 year) completed a survey at two time points, spaced 4 months apart, on average. RESULTS: Several significant direct effects emerged. First, greater perceptions that coaches punished for mistakes predicted decreases in relatedness with coaches and teammates. Second, greater perceptions of relatedness with coaches and teammates predicted increases in personal and social responsibility. Indirect effects also emerged: (a) punishment for mistakes predicted decreases in personal responsibility and social responsibility, and (b) cooperative learning predicted increases in social responsibility, through effects on coach and teammate relatedness. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that coaches who provide opportunities for collaborative learning and minimize mistake-contingent punishment will foster athletes' sense of connection and enhance their psychosocial well-being.

The measurement, tracking and development practices of English professional football academies.

Tracking and measuring elements of performance is a well-established feature of practice in football academies. Player characteristics are considered, tracked, and measured using a variety of methods, with curricula often devised based on perceived importance and data interpretation. Against this breadth, our aim was to investigate the policies and systems in place at category one and two English football academies. Specifically, our objectives were (a) to understand what factors academies believe are important in the development of their players, (b) explore what academies are tracking and how they measure performance, and (c) analyse the extent to which these factors are integrated into the player's curricula. A total of 15 participants with over 10 years' experience across 40 Talent Development (TD) environments were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA), generated themes suggest that academies perceive a differential weighting between performance factors, with greatest importance placed on technical, tactical and psychological factors. A lack of clear measurement systematisation was often apparent. Finally, we identified methods of player curricula integration. We conclude by offering implications for academies to optimise integration of systems and processes that measure and track their players development.

Analysis of Factors Affecting Seasonal Affective Disorder in Public Environment and College Football Players Based on Computerized Neural Network Light Therapy / Análisis de los factores que afectan el trastorno afectivo estacional en entornos públicos y jugadores de fútbol universitario basado en la fototerapia de redes neuronales computarizadas

Seasonal affective disorder is a depressive affective psychiatric disorder that recurs at the same time of the year and seriously impacts people's daily work and life. The university stage is an important period for individuals to transition to social life, in which they are more vulnerable to negative life events such as academic performance pressure, interpersonal discomfort, and employment problems. Hence, the incidence of depression among university football players is at a high level. As an important timing factor, ambient light has a wide range of effects on various physiological and psychological functions, and its non-visual effects on mood have attracted particular attention from researchers. The illuminance, color temperature and wavelength of ambient light are important physical factors influencing mood. Abnormal light patterns such as short photoperiods, artificial light at night, and continuous light can lead to mood disorders. Light duration, time point, individual characteristics, subjective preferences, and genotype also modulate the mood effects of light. On the one hand, light signals are projected by intrinsic light-sensitive ganglion cells in the retina to brain regions involved in emotion regulation to directly influence mood. On the other hand, light signals indirectly influence mood by synchronizing internal physiological rhythms and their regulated hormone secretion, neurotransmission and sleep. The proposed method uses heart rate, exercise behavior, environment, and textual information from social platforms as raw data for mental health analysis; feature extraction of various types of information by convolutional neural network in artificial intelligence; and random forest algorithm as a classifier to determine the factors influencing seasonal affective disorder in college football players. The test and data analysis results show that the scheme described in the paper has a high recognition accuracy, which proves the effectiveness and feasibility of the scheme.(AU)

The effect of COVID-19 on home advantage in high- and low-stake situations: Evidence from the European national football competitions.

The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly altered the way sporting events are observed. With the absence or limited presence of spectators in stadiums, the traditional advantage enjoyed by home teams has diminished considerably. This underscores the notion that the support of home fans can often be considered a key factor of the home advantage (HA) phenomenon, wherein teams perform better in front of their own supporters. However, the impact of reduced attendance on games with higher stakes, as opposed to low-stakes friendly matches, remains uncertain. In this study, we investigate the recently concluded European football championship (EURO 20), wherein several teams had the advantage of playing at home in high-stakes games with only one-third of the stadium capacity filled. Firstly, we demonstrate that the Covid-19 restrictions, leading to reduced fan attendance, resulted in a nearly 50% decrease in HA compared to the HA exhibited by the same teams during the qualification stage preceding EURO 20, even after accounting for team strength. Secondly, we show that while low-stakes friendly matches generally exhibit a smaller overall HA compared to high-stakes games, the absence of fans led to a similar reduction in HA during the low-stakes matches. Utilizing the recently developed Home Advantage Mediated (HAM) model (Bilalic, Gula, & Vaci, 2021, Scientific Reports, 21558), we were able to attribute the reduction in both high- and low-stakes games to poorer team performance, with no significant contribution from referee bias.

Physical Activity, Learning Experience, and Their Influence on Athletic and Sports Performance in the United States: The Mediating Role of Quality of Life / Actividad física, experiencia de aprendizaje y su influencia en el rendimiento atlético y deportivo en los Estados Unidos: el papel mediador de la calidad de vida

The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between physical activity (PA), sportsman learning experiences (SLE), and sports performance in a sample of football players from the United States. The study specifically aims to explore the potential moderating effect of physical health impairments (PHYI) and the mediating role of quality of life (QOL) in these relationships. A quantitative cross-sectional methodology was employed to gather data from 300 football players. The data collection process involved the use of self-administered questionnaires, and a convenient sampling technique was utilised. The data that was gathered was subjected to analysis using both demographic and inferential statistics with the assistance of SPSS. The regression analysis demonstrates a statistically significant and positive relationship between physical activity (PA) and both quality of life (QOL) and subjective life expectancy (SLE). Furthermore, the findings suggest that QOL partially mediates the association between PA and SLE. It is worth mentioning that the inclusion of PHYI significantly amplifies the beneficial impact of physical activity on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aforementioned findings underscore the necessity of implementing all-encompassing athlete development initiatives that prioritise both the physical and mental well-being of individuals, particularly those athletes who are confronted with health-related obstacles. The present study makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing exploration of athlete development and provides practical implications for the design of comprehensive athlete support systems with the goal of improving athletic performance and overall life satisfaction.(AU)

What happens in the prefrontal cortex? Cognitive processing of novel and familiar stimuli in soccer: An exploratory fNIRS study.

The importance of both general and sport-specific perceptual-cognitive abilities in soccer players has been investigated in several studies. Although these perceptual-cognitive skills could contribute significantly to soccer players' expertise, the underlying cortical mechanisms have not been clarified yet. Examining activity changes in the prefrontal cortex under different cognitive demands may help to better understand the underlying mechanisms of sports expertise. The aim of this study was to analyse the prefrontal activity of soccer experts during general and sport-specific cognitive tasks. For this purpose, 39 semi-professional soccer players performed four perceptual-cognitive tests, two of which assessed general cognition, the other two assessed sport-specific cognition. Since soccer is a movement-intensive sport, two tests were performed in motion. While performing cognitive tests, prefrontal activity was recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) (NIRSport, NIRx Medical Technologies, USA). Differences of prefrontal activity in general and sport-specific cognitive tasks were analysed using paired t-tests. The results showed significant increases in prefrontal activity during general cognitive tests (novel stimuli) compared to sport-specific tests (familiar stimuli). The comparatively lower prefrontal activity change during sport-specific cognition might be due to learned automatisms of experts in this field. These results seem in line with previous findings on novel and automated cognition, "repetition suppression theory" and "neural efficiency theory". Furthermore, the different cortical processes could be caused by altered prefrontal structures of experts and might represent a decisive factor for expertise in team sports. However, further research is needed to clarify the prefrontal involvement on expertise in general and sport-specific cognition.

This fNIRS study examines differences in the prefrontal activity of soccer experts during general and sport-specific cognitive tasks.In general cognitive tasks, increased prefrontal activity changes were detected, whereas lower cortical activity changes during sport-specific cognition were found.These findings support the "repetition suppression theory" and earlier findings on the processing of novel stimuli in the prefrontal cortex (PFC).The differences in the cortical processing of general and sport-specific tasks of soccer players might be caused by altered prefrontal structures of experts and could be of special importance for expertise in soccer.

Ansiedad precompetitiva y habilidades psicológicas relacionadas con el rendimiento deportivo / Precompetitive anxiety and psychological skills in sports performance

Antecedentes: la vinculación entre el estrés, la ansiedad y el rendimiento deportivo constituye un relevante tema de interés en el área de la psicología deportiva, si bien existe poca evidencia acerca de cómo diferentes variables pueden afectar a los niveles de ansiedad y así alterar el rendimiento deportivo. Objetivo: comparar las relaciones existentes entre las características psicológicas relacionadas con el rendimiento deportivo y ansiedad precompetitiva en una muestra de deportistas federados y no federados que difieren en sexo, edad y deporte practicado. Método: en este estudio han participado 202 deportistas con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y 30 años (X = 22,35; DT = 3,69) que practican fútbol, baloncesto, atletismo y/o natación. Resultados: se ha encontrado que existe relación entre las habilidades psicológicas relacionadas con el rendimiento deportivo y la ansiedad precompetitiva. Asimismo, se ha hallado que solo existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la ansiedad somática dependiendo de si el deporte practicado es individual o grupal, así como diferencias en los niveles de ansiedad precompetitiva según el sexo, si bien no hay relación diferencial en los niveles de ansiedad respecto a la edad. Conclusiones: a través de este estudio se ha pretendido aportar más evidencia empírica al ámbito de la psicología deportiva y se valoran sus beneficios.(AU)

Introduction: The link between stress, anxiety and sports performance is a relevant topic of interest in the area of sports psychology, although there is little evidence about how different variables can affect anxiety levels and thus alter sports performance. Objective: Compare the relationships between psychological characteristics related to sports performance and pre-competitive anxiety in a sample of federated and non-federated athletes differing in sex, age and sport practiced. Method: 202 sportsmen and women aged between 18 and 30 years (X = 22.35; SD = 3.69) who play football, basketball, athletics and/or swimming participated. Results: it was found that there is a relationship between psychological skills related to sports performance and pre-competitive anxiety. Likewise, it was found that there are only statistically significant differences in somatic anxiety depending on whether the sport practised is individual or group, as well as differences in the levels of pre-competitive anxiety by gender, although there is no differential relationship in the levels of anxiety with respect to age. Conclusions: the aim of this study is to provide more empirical evidence to the field of sport psychology and to assess its benefits.(AU)

How the 12th Man Influences Football Matches: The Role of Fans and Referees in the Home Advantage Phenomenon.

Home advantage and referee bias are two sport factors that have been widely studied in the football (i.e., soccer) context. However, the mediating effect of spectators on these factors is not well understood, especially in the Turkish Super League. We examined (a) how variables of home advantage, referee bias, and spectator presence interacted to affect the outcome of past football matches; (b) how these variables have changed over time in the Turkish Super League; (c) and whether home advantage and referee bias differ in matches with spectators and ghost matches (without spectators). We analyzed regular season matches played in the Turkish Super League between the 2014-2015 and 2021-2022 seasons. We found that home teams had a significant advantage over away teams in matches with spectators (p < .001) and in ghost matches (p < .05 and p < .001), with small to medium effect sizes (d = .09 and .34, respectively). Regarding referee bias, away teams received more yellow cards and fewer penalties than home teams in matches with spectators (p < .001; d = -.10), and away teams received fewer yellow cards than home teams in ghost matches (p > .05; d = .05). There was no statistically significant difference between home and away teams on number of red cards in either type of match (p > .05). Thus, our data reveal that home teams have an edge over away teams with and without spectators, but this advantage is reduced during ghost matches (without spectators). We also revealed weak evidence of referee bias in favor of home teams, but only for some variables and only when spectators were present.

Is coaches' perceived team performance associated with their intentions to persist in coaching? The mediating role of coaches' psychological needs and motivation.

This study examined the association between team performance perceived by coaches, coaches' basic psychological needs, motivation, and their intentions to persist in coaching. Participants were 719 coaches (80 females, M = 33.49 years, SD = 10.27, range = 18-67) of different team sports (soccer = 514; basketball = 165; volleyball = 23; handball = 14; and hockey = 3) who completed questionnaire measures at the end of the season. Structural equation modelling adjusted for sex, coaches' experience, age categories, and type of sport revealed that coaches' perceptions of team performance were positively related to their need satisfaction and negatively to their need frustration. In turn, coaches' need satisfaction was positively associated with their autonomous motivation, whereas their need frustration was positively related to controlled motivation and amotivation. Finally, coaches' autonomous motivation was a positive predictor of their intentions to persist, and conversely, coaches' amotivation was a negative predictor of their intentions to persist. We found a significant positive and indirect effect between team performance perceived by coaches and their intention to persist through their need satisfaction and autonomous motivation. These findings represent the first quantitative insight into how coach-perceived team performance could function as a new antecedent relevant to coaches' motivational processes and persistence.

Exploring football coaches' views on coach education, role, and practice design: An Australian perspective.

Despite the importance placed on the design and delivery of formal coach education programs by Football Australia, there remains a lack of research relating to how formal coach education strategies support Australian football (i.e., soccer) coaches and their coaching practices. Through a series of semi-structured interviews, 20 highly qualified and experienced Australian senior football coaches shared their perspectives on: (i) coach education, (ii) their role as coach, and (iii) practice design. Findings revealed that formal coach education in Australia was largely ineffective in preparing senior coaches for the realities of senior football. Coaches attributed this to a number of factors, including the content's quality, structure and delivery, which they viewed as rudimentary, outdated, repetitive and lacking in relevance and depth. Coaches also revealed there was an expectation of conformity to the content and practices endorsed by the National Football Curriculum, limiting the value and impact of formal coach education in supporting the development of coaches' theoretical and practical dispositions. These findings point towards a number of broad and systemic issues relating to the conceptual, theoretical and practical foundations of the National Football Curriculum and subsequent courses. If Football Australia are to reach their goal in designing and delivering effective and meaningful coach education programs that support the highly complex and multifaceted role of senior coaching, formal coach education may need to adapt and evolve in a manner that better supports the multi-dimensional and context-specific needs of Australian senior football coaches.

Relación entre la identidad atlética y la satisfacción con la vida en función del motivo de retiro del fútbol profesional / Relationship between Athletic Identity, and Life Satisfaction as function of the motive for retirement from professional soccer

Aunque la identidad atlética y el motivo de retiro se consideran variables claves para comprender el retiro deportivo, existen resultados contradictorios con respecto a su relación con la satisfacción con la vida y sus posibles implicaciones en una vivencia negativa del retiro. En este estudio participaron 108 futbolistas retirados del fútbol profesional inglés quienes respondieron a la Athletic Identity Measurement Scale y la Satisfaction with Life Scale. Los resultados fueron analizados a través de pruebas de contraste de hipótesis y correlaciones bivariadas. No se hallaron diferencias significativas entre los grupos, pero el análisis correlacional sugiere que la relación entre estas variables cambia en función del motivo de retiro. Se discuten las implicaciones de estas diferencias tanto en la experiencia y preparación del retiro como en posibles intervenciones posterior a éste. (AU)

While Athletic identity and the different reasons for sports retirement have been considered key variables to understand how athletes cope with sports career termination, the relationship between these and life satisfaction remains inconclusive. A total of 108 male individuals retired from English professional football (soccer) were part of this study. Their answers to the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were analyzed through statistical hypotheses tests and bivariate correlations. Although no statistical differences were found between the groups, correlational analyses suggest that the relationship between athletic identity and life satisfaction changes depending on the reason for retirement. The implications of these findings in the development of interventions for athletes near to retire is discussed. (AU)

The effects of different small-sided games configurations on heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and running demands in professional soccer players.

We examined the effects of different small-sided games (SSG) configurations on heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and running demands in soccer players. Twelve male soccer players (U18) participated in this randomized cross-over study. Players performed three SSG in different "fixed" and "dynamic" pitch sizes (3v3 in large (SSGL) and small (SSGS) fixed area; or 3v3 in dynamic dimensions [SSGD]), with 4x4 minutes interspersed by 2 minutes of rest. HR measures (maximum [HRmax], average [HRavg], and percentage of maximum [%HRmax]), RPE, and running demands were collected across the SGG sessions. The following running activities were recorded: total distance covered (TD), distance covered (DC) at 6-12 km·h-1, ≥ 12-18 km·h-1, and >18 km·h-1, peak running speed, acceleration (ACC) and deceleration (DEC) at 1-2 m·s-2 and 2-3 m·s-2, player load, and high metabolic load distance (HMLD). SSGL displayed higher HRavg, %HRmax, and RPE values than SSGS (p < 0.05). SSGL resulted in higher TD, DC at 6-12 km·h-1, ≥ 12-18 km·h-1, > 18 km·h-1, and higher peak speed than SSGS and SSGD (p < 0.05). Moreover, SSGD presented higher TD and DC at 6-12 km·h-1 and ≥ 12-18 km·h-1 than SSGS (p < 0.05). In contrast, SSGD and SSGS showed higher number of ACC and DEC at 1-2 m·s-2 than SSGL (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the pitch size and playing area of the SSG can be manipulated to promote desired physiological and physical demands in young soccer players.HighlightsWe examined how fixed (small and large) or variable (dynamic) pitch sizes affected the psychophysiological and running demands of young soccer players during small-sided games.Small-sided games with larger pitch sizes and areas per player elicited greater psychophysiological and running demands than small areas.The pitch size designed in the current study does not appear to affect the number of acceleration and deceleration (> 2 m·s-2).Varying the pitch size during the small-sided games (i.e. dynamic condition) could be an interesting constraint to be considered by soccer coaches in order to enhance task variability.

Longitudinal relationships between mental toughness, resilience, cognitive appraisals and perceived performance in competitive soccer goalkeepers.

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to examine the influence of the mental toughness (MT) trait on resilience, cognitive appraisals and perceived performance states and (2) to explore dynamic relationships between these states among soccer goalkeepers during a competitive season. Thirty-six soccer goalkeepers from regional to professional levels first voluntarily completed a questionnaire measuring their mental toughness. Subsequently, a single-item approach was used to assess resilience, cognitive appraisals (threat, loss, challenge and benefit) and subjective performance every 2 weeks for 4 months. Results of multilevel analyses showed that mental toughness significantly and positively predicted resilience, which significantly and positively predicted benefit appraisal and negatively predicted threat appraisal. Moreover, subjective performance was significantly and positively predicted by benefit appraisal. Our results also revealed the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between mental toughness and appraisals (threat and benefit) as well as the mediating role of benefit appraisal in the relationship between resilience and subjective performance. Practical applications are proposed to optimize the daily experiences of goalkeepers, such as creating a supportive climate.

Construcción y valoración de la pertenencia a una barra brava de fútbol. Las voces de los exintegrantes / Construction and assessment of membership to a soccer barra brava. The voices of former members

En este trabajo describimos la construcción y valoración de la pertenencia a una barra brava de fútbol desde las voces de un grupo de exintegrantes. Desarrollamos entrevistas semi estructuradas con siete exintegrantes de la barra brava Trinchera Norte (Perú), que asistían a los esta-dios en la década de 1990 y ejercían un rol protagónico en la barra brava. Los participantes nos relatan que construyeron su pertenencia a partir de la interacción con un grupo de pares que compartían el interés por un equipo de fútbol. En este grupo se desarrollaron y definieron comportamientos que asumieron y que destacan en la actualidad. Así, valoran el compañerismo, la resiliencia, el orgullo y la lucha por sus metas e ideales como aprendizajes significativos que continúan aplicando en su vida. (AU)

In this paper, we describe the construction and assessment of membership to a football barra brava from the voices of a group of former members. We developed semi-structured interviews with seven former members of the barra brava Trinchera Norte(Peru), who attended the stadiums in the 1990s and played a leading role in the barra brava. The participants tell us that they built their membership from the interaction with a group of peers who shared an in-terest in a soccer team. In this group, behaviors that they assumed and that stand out today were developed and defined. Thus, they value camaraderie, resilience, pride and the fight for their goals and ideals as significant learning that they continue to apply in their lives. (AU)