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Mental processes in professional football players
Johan Grønset1, Martin Langagergaard2, Stig Arve Sæther1
1Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.
Frontiers in Psychology
|September 19, 2024
Summary
Elite football players recognize mental processes impact performance. Mental toughness, arousal regulation, and self-confidence are key, with sport psychologists aiding skill development.
Area of Science:
- Sports Psychology
- Elite Performance Analysis
Background:
- Established links exist between mental processes and elite football performance.
- Limited research explores professional players' lived experiences of these influences.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate how elite Norwegian professional football players perceive the importance of mental skills.
- Examine the role of arousal regulation, mental toughness, and self-confidence.
- Understand the perceived value of sport psychologists in skill development.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative research design.
- In-depth interviews with six elite Norwegian professional football players.
- Participants represented five professional clubs with a mean age of 28.3 years.
Main Results:
- Players demonstrate conscious awareness of mental processes influencing performance.
- Sport psychologists are crucial for developing mental skills.
- Mental toughness is the most significant mental process, aiding in coping with challenges.
Conclusions:
- Mental processes, particularly mental toughness, are vital for elite football performance.
- Mental toughness is linked to age and experience.
- Younger players show greater awareness of sport psychologist utilization.
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