Based on the developmental theory presented by Gagné (2009), we examined factors perceived to influence development of elite youth football players at a critical stage in their progression professional level. Transcribed interviews with ten expert coaches were inductively and deductively content analysed. Conceptualisation data revealed six interrelated higher-order categories that represented either positively or negatively player development. These were: awareness (e.g. self-awareness,...

Abstract This paper presents the first in a series of studies exploring coaches’ experiences stress within unique culture world class sport. The purpose this study was to gain an in-depth account stressors encountered by elite coaches United Kingdom. Six male and six female with international experience were interviewed. Transcribed interviews inductively content analyzed three independent researchers. Ten higher-order themes emerged, demonstrating that experienced wide range (e.g.,...

This study explored coaches’ responses to stress, the perceived effects of and coping strategies coaches employed. Transcribed interviews with 12 world class coaches, based in UK, were inductively content analyzed. A range themes emerged describing stressors stress. Specifically, discussed psychological reactions, suggested that their negative stress could be projected onto athletes. While structuring planning was reported as a strategy, described limited use skills tended avoid provoked...

Background: Physical activity (PA) declines as adolescents get older, and the motivational determinants of PA warrant further investigation. The purposes this study were to investigate amount physical sedentary that participated in across age, gender, race, adolescents’ attraction their perceived barriers benefits race. Methods: High school students (N = 1163) aged between 13 16 years completed questionnaires on minutes intensity activity, interests participating PA. Results: A series...

The purpose of the present study was to explore coaches' perceptions mental toughness attributes as well strategies used build toughness. Participants were 10 National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches from a variety sports. In-depth interviews conducted using standard qualitative methodology and content analyzed by three researchers. Based on raw data responses, lower then higher-order themes developed capture main ideas discussed coaches. Regarding attributes, psychological...

The purpose of the present study was to identify factors perceived underpin football officiating excellence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted collect data from 15 English Premier League referees. Through inductive content analysis, emerging themes identified and comprised a variety physical, environmental, psychological factors: (a) mental toughness attributes, (b) support networks services, (c) effective game management qualities, (d) multifaceted pre-match preparation, (e)...

The Olympic environment has been identified as particularly stressful and unlike any other in terms of the media attention focus placed on competition. While potential negative consequences stress for coaches their athletes have explored, relatively little is known about factors underpinning successful coaching performance. We explored elite coaches' perceptions that enable them to coach a environment. Eight from one Great Britain's most teams (i.e. consistent medal winners previous three...

As a preliminary investigation, we examined elite youth football academy players' perceptions of the quality their development environment, at crucial stage in progression to professional level. With institutional ethics approval, Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ) [1] was used survey 50 players aged 16–18 (m 17.1, ± s = 0.6 years) recruited from academies Premier League and Championship clubs England. Overall, results suggest that player environments are perceived be good...

To prepare athletes for psychological pressure of competition, training (PT) systematically applies on during training. This study explored how to create PT and improves performance in competition. Specifically, it aimed explore the views sport psychologists on: (a) common properties effective manipulations, (b) PT's mechanisms improving under pressure. Eight eight international-level participated semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis identified three manipulations: extending reach...

This study examined the factors perceived by successful coaches to underpin optimal development environments within elite English soccer academies. A semistructured interview guide was developed 10 expert about they create for players at a key stage in their development. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductively content analyzed. results identified wide range of resulting conceptual framework that explained how these interact an environment. Subcomponents this included...

Studies have tested pressure training (PT) interventions in which performers practice physical or technical skills under simulated psychological pressure, but research has not yet synthesized the results of these studies.This meta-analysis assessed magnitude PT's effect on performance sport and other high-pressure domains (e.g., law enforcement).A secondary purpose was to investigate how domain, dose, experience, type task moderated effectiveness interventions.A study included if it...

The major purposes of the present investigation were (a) to enhance Sport Imagery Questionnaire (SIQ) by adding an effectiveness component already existing frequency component;(b) assess when, and under what conditions, imagery is being employed athletes; (c) conduct exploratory analysis impact gender type sport on imageryuse. Participants 523 athletes from both individual team sports at two NCAA Division I universities. They all completed SIQ, Use (IUQ) anopen-ended questionnaire assessing...

The purpose of the current study was to explore National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 athletes’ perceptions mental toughness. Specifically, three areas toughness were explored including attributes, role significant others, and strategies used build In-depth interviews conducted with 15 athletes from a variety sports. Lower higher-order themes developed capture main ideas Various psychological attributes emerged performing under pressure, being motivated, hard worker,...

Based on recent evidence, this study identified 10 strategies advocated by sport psychology consultants as effective at developing and maintaining robust sport-confidence in athletes. Due to the study's exploratory nature, qualitative interviews were conducted content analyzed. Six themes emerged for 4 sport-confidence. Findings reveal a need develop an athlete's signature strengths, increase pressure experienced training, identify broad stable sources of confidence Consultants reported that...

Following Moshe Talmon's (1990) ground-breaking work on single-session therapy, the philosophy and practice of therapy has expanded across world. Critically, regardless context approach, therapists support adopting a “single-session mindset” (Cannistrà, 2022; Hoyt et al., 2020). Our study sought to clarify expert's understanding this mindset with empirical evidence. Ten world leading figures in were interviewed against aim. Reflexive thematic analysis highlighted is founded upon nine core...

Sport can be perceived as one of the contemporary key socializing agencies with which a significant number children and youth come in to contact. The nature this contact between institution sport individual is erratic, leading the, often abrupt unforeseen, termination individual's sporting career. In essay, our aim draw wider attention personal adjustments young athletes undergo during after their career has been institutionally terminated. Our analysis embedded theory well empirical,...

The purpose of this study was to explore the experience performance slumps in cricket from perspective psychological resilience. Findings a thematic analysis focus group (n = 4 athletes) and one-to-one interviews 10 with 14 expert batsmen indicated that numerous factors associated resilience protected players experiencing poor negative effects stress, enabling them successfully implement strategies overcome slumps. These fostered strengthening acquisition technical, tactical, psychosocial...

The purposes of the present investigation were twofold: (a) to investigate fluctuations anxiety and self-confidence throughout competition by measuring these variables retrospectively before, during, after (b) relationship between intensity directional interpretation perceived performance across competition. Field hockey players (N = 62) completed modified Mental Readiness Form-Likert (MRF-2) within 30 minutes using method retrospective recall. Results indicated significant for cognitive...

While athletes have benefitted from systematic Mental Skills Training (MST) (e.g. Thelwell & Greenlees, 2001), there is little evidence of such programmes existing for sports coaches, despite coaches being considered performers too (Frey, 2007). This study involved the development, implementation, and evaluation a ‘Coaching under Pressure’ MST programme, aimed at enhancing coaches’ ability to cope with stressors coach effectively in ‘stressful’ situations. Five one Great Britain’s most...

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a Mental Toughness Education and Training Program (MTETP) in elite football officiating. MTETP consisted four individual two group-based workshops designed to develop mental toughness (MT) enhance performance three English Football League (EFL) referees. Adopting single-subject, multiple-baseline-across-participants design, MT referee-assessor reports were evaluated. Self coach-ratings highlighted an instant continued improvement all referees...

Adults aged 55 and older are least likely to play sport. Despite research suggesting this population experiences physical psychological benefits when doing so, limited focuses on adult sport initiation, especially in "adapted sports" such as walking football. The aim of study was explore initiation football players between 75 years old. Semistructured interviews took place with 17 adults playing for 6 months minimum (Mage = 64). Inductive analysis revealed six higher order themes...

This study examined coaches' and sport psychologists' experiences of managing performance blocks the mechanisms they adopted in supporting athletes who experience them. qualitative a constructivist philosophical paradigm. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with elite coaches (n = 8) HCPC-registered psychologists 7). Following transcription, analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings indicated that is complex dynamic process whereby participants iteratively moved through five stages...

The purpose of the present study was to gain a detailed understanding Mental Toughness (MT) in context elite football officiating. Competition-specific and off-field situations perceived require MT as well corresponding behaviours cognitions utilised by mentally tough referees were identified. Fifteen English Premier League (EPL) individually interviewed using semi-structured interview guide. Through inductive deductive content analysis, 70 converged into five higher-order themes: (a)...

The influential role of the coach in athlete performance and development has long been acknowledged, coaches are now considered ‘performers’, just like their athletes. purpose present study was to explore psychological attributes elite perceived underpin ability most effectively factors influence attribute development. Qualitative research methods were implemented where 12 (eight male, four female) participated semi-structured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis generated nine higher...

There is a lack of literature documenting strengths-based approaches in sport psychology. This study explored how super-strengths approach has been implemented by psychologists (n = 7) and coaches 8), with UK elite athletes. Findings were categorized into 3 general dimensions: defining super-strengths, identification methods, phases development. Super-strengths defined as strategy for performance, utilizing potential world's-best resource to gain competitive edge. Identification methods...