Coaching efficacy is largely influenced by mastery experiences such as formal education, coaching experience, and sport participation. Further examining specific experiences, such as exposure to sport psychology, may prove helpful in advancing our understanding of coaching efficacy. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore male high school coaches' coaching experience to determine whether sport psychology education and interactions with sport psychology consultants relate to coaches' coaching efficacy. Participants, 585 males (Mage = 43.89 + 10.02), completed an online survey measuring coaching efficacy and coaching and sport psychology experience. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that after controlling for years of coaching experience and school size, sport psychology education and interactions with sport psychology consultants were associated with higher overall coaching efficacy scores (p < .001). Additionally, analysis of covariance revealed that those with extensive sport psychology education had statistically higher coaching efficacy scores than those reporting no sport psychology education (p < .05). Knowledge of these phenomena may be relevant for sport psychology consultants, coach educators, and researchers.

Huvudsyftet med studien var att undersöka elitfotbollsspelares uppfattningar kring vilka hinder och möjligheter som finns för att idrottspsykologiska rådgivare ska ges inträde i en fotbollsförening. Ett ytterligare syfte var att undersöka vad som karaktäriserar en framgångsrik idrottspsykologisk rådgivare vid samarbete med elitfotbollsspelare. Populationen utgjordes av åtta svenska elitfotbollsspelare. Kriterierna för att inkluderas i studien var att deltagarna skulle tillhört en a-lagstrupp i en elitfotbollsförening (Allsvenskan och Superettan) säsongen 2015. Insamlingen av data utgick från kvalitativ ansats, genom intervjuer och analyserades utifrån kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet visade att idrottarna påpekade fler hinder än möjligheter för att den idrottspsykologiska rådgivaren ska ges inträde i en förening, där skepticism mot idrottspsykologi nämndes som ett exempel. Gällande karaktärsdrag visade resultatet att idrottarna hade en större samsyn i förhållande till de hinder och möjligheter som framkom. Slutligen diskuterar författarna förslag på framtida forskning, metodkritik och implikationer. / The main purpose of the study was to examine elite soccer players perceptions of which barriers and possibilities exists in order to give sport psychology consultants entry in a soccer organization. Another purpose was to examine what characterizes a successful sport psychology consultant in their cooperation with elite soccer players. The population was eight swedish elite soccer players. The criteria to be included in the study, was that the athletes had pertained a first team squad in an elite soccer organization (Allsvenskan and Superettan) in the season of 2015. Data collection was done through qualitative approach, through interviews and was analyzed by qualitative content analysis. The results showed the athletes pointed out more barriers than possibilities to give the sport psychology consultant entry in an organization, where skepticism towards sport psychology was mentioned as an example. Regarding characteristics the results showed that the athletes had more consensuses in relation to the barriers and possibilities that appeared. Finally the authors discuss suggestions in terms of future research, methodology reflections and implications.

Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Sport analogies are constantly used in business settings, perhaps due to some of the surface similarities between sport teams that strive to win competitive leagues and business teams striving to be successful in a competitive environment. The similarities between the sports and business worlds are highlighted by various authors who share “winning strategies” with managers and team leaders. However, the psychology of sports performance may be very different from the psychology of the business world. The main purpose of this investigation was to determine if the principles of sport psychology are indeed applicable to the environment of the workplace. Due to the emphasis on performance output in the corporate environment, which to a large extent is similar to the challenges encountered by elite sport persons, it is proposed that sport psychology rather than clinical psychology could be utilised as a way to assist employees to cope with the demands of the workplace. It is believed that by adopting the principles of sport psychology, employees can learn how to use mental skills, not only to enhance their performance in the work place, but also to deal with daily life stressors. The main focus of the study was to develop a mental skills programme based on sport psychology principles and to determine its effectiveness in the corporate world.

This research tested the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and mood states prior to performance, using two culturally diverse populations and using a mixed methodology. The objective was to explore whether there were cultural differences between the two samples thereafter exploring whether EI can be enhanced in the two cultures, using a psychological skills intervention. Phase 1 and 2 used the BRUMS-32 (Terry et al., 1999), and the EIS (Schutte et al., 1998) to investigate mood states and EI among a sample of UK wheelchair basketball players (phase 1: n = 51), and Ghanaian footballers (phase 2: n = 70). Five semi-structured interviews were also completed in phase 1. In phase 3 interventions (goal-setting, self-talk, relaxation and daily diaries) were used to enhance EI in a sample of UK wheelchair basketball players (n = 6) and Ghanaian football players (n = 8). Self-talk questionnaires, daily diaries, EIS and structured interviews were used to collect data during the intervention. Phase 1 MANOVA results showed that EI was related to mood states associated with optimal and dysfunctional performance (Wilks' Lambda 8.7 = .01, F = 74.76, P = .00, Partial Eta2 = .99) and indicated that optimism and utilisation of emotions contributed significantly to variation in mood by performance. Four key themes emerged from semi-structured interviews: antecedents of emotions; emotion and performance; emotional intelligence; and coping with emotions. Results suggested that EI correlated with performance. Phase 2, MANOVA results showed that EI was related to mood states associated with optimal and dysfunctional performance (Wilks' Lambda 8.40 = .50, F = 7.82, P < .00, Partial Eta2 = .50) and indicated that emotion regulation and appraisal of other‟s emotions contributed significantly to variations in mood by performance. When seen collectively, results of phase 1 and 2 indicate that there were cultural differences between the two populations.Phase 3 indicated that in both populations EI could be enhanced for some of the participants. Culture could be an explanation for the intervention only partially working. The EI theory or the EIS may only work in the culture it was developed in as it did not seem to detect changes in the Ghanaian sample.

La créativité est une caractéristique psychologique importante à l’atteinte de l’expertise. Le développement de la pensée créative étant reconnu comme un atout essentiel à l’atteinte et au maintien de performances supérieures dans le milieu des arts, des sciences, de la santé, des entreprises et de l’éducation, peu de connaissances sont disponibles quant à son rôle dans le domaine sportif. Par conséquent, l’objectif général de cette thèse était d’explorer le rôle de la créativité sur le développement de l’expertise sportive. Une première étude a d’abord identifié certains facteurs qui influencent la créativité chez les athlètes élites. Les résultats montrent que la pratique de plusieurs sports au niveau récréatif lors du développement athlétique ainsi qu’un environnement favorisant la résolution de problèmes sont bénéfiques au développement de la pensée créative. De plus, il semble que l’expertise soit positivement associée à la créativité tandis que l’expérience y est négativement liée. Ensuite, une seconde étude a indiqué que l’engagement dans des activités créatives entraîne l’utilisation de stratégies de coping orientées vers la tâche qui, à leur tour, favorisent l’atteinte de l’état de flow. Les résultats de cette étude indiquent également plusieurs associations positives entre la créativité et la fréquence d’atteinte de l’état de flow. Finalement, une troisième étude présente les impacts de la mise en place d’une intervention composée d’activités d’improvisation sur la performance de patineurs artistiques élites. Suite à l’intervention, des effets positifs ont été observés sur la performance artistique, la performance en compétition, les attitudes et valeurs créatives, l’estime de soi et les habiletés de pleine conscience des patineurs. Dans l’ensemble, ces résultats permettent de conclure que la créativité est une caractéristique importante à l’atteinte de l’excellence sportive. Il serait donc important de stimuler les habiletés créatives des athlètes afin d’assurer une évolution constante des performances sportives. / Creativity is an important psychological characteristic linked to expertise. The development of creative thinking is recognized as a key asset in the achievement and maintenance of superior performances in the arts, sciences, health, business, and education, but little is known about its role in sport. Therefore, the general goal of this thesis was to explore the role of creativity in the development of sports expertise. A first study identified some factors influencing creativity among elite athletes. The results showed that practicing several sports at a recreational level throughout the athletic development and being in an environment that promotes problem solving is beneficial to the development of creative thinking. Moreover, it seems that expertise is positively associated with creativity, whereas experience is negatively associated with this construct. Then, a second study found that investment in creative activities lead to a better use of task-oriented coping strategies, which in turn, promoted the achievement of flow state. The results of this study also indicate several positive associations between creativity and flow state attainment. Finally, a third study examined the influence of the implementation of an intervention composed of improvisational activities on elite figure skaters’ performances. Following the intervention, positive effects were observed on skaters’ artistic performances, performance in competition, creative attitudes and values, self-esteem, and mindfulness skills. Overall, these results suggest that creativity is an important feature of sport excellence achievement. It is thus important to foster creative abilities in athletes to ensure a constant evolution of sport performances.

Title: Motivation for Practicing Judo for Children in age between 11 and 15 years. The Aim of The Thesis: The aim of this thesis was to find out which motivation factors are the most importatnt for the judo athletes in age between 11-15 years. We studied all the necessary literature, collected informations about this topic, and established quantitative questionnaire. The result of this thesis is suggestion for coaches based on received information about which motivation factors are important for children and which are not. Method: Experiment will be provided by using quantitative questionnaires established for judo athletes in age between 11 and 15. Key Words: Motivation, Achievment Motivation, Sport Psychology, Judo, Judo training

Essa tese é um dos resultados possíveis provenientes da lacuna acadêmica referente à intersecção de três campos: o esporte, a psicologia e as relações raciais. A articulação entre eles se dá a partir de seu objetivo: analisar o processo de racialização no contexto esportivo a partir das narrativas de profissionais de psicologia. Os conceitos de raça, racialização, racismo, supremacia branca e branquitude são apresentados e contextualizados, uma vez que foram importantes para a construção do texto. No seu escopo teórico, a tese faz uma apresentação e aprofundamento da discussão a respeito do esporte moderno, porém, diferentemente da literatura consagrada do campo esportivo, há um enfoque no papel dessa instituição na consolidação da supremacia branca no contexto do colonialismo europeu a partir do século XIX. Em seguida, é elaborada uma revisão de literatura sobre os estudos das relações raciais e o esporte, bem como da contribuição da psicologia no tema. Por fim, um panorama histórico brasileiro sobre a psicologia do esporte e as relações raciais é apresentado, apontando para os problemas enfrentados pela área ao se propor um trabalho antirracista. Já o campo empírico é composto por oito entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas com quatro psicólogos e quatro psicólogas que trabalharam em algum momento de suas carreiras no esporte. O conteúdo delas é analisado a partir do referencial teórico da Teoria Crítica de Raça. Dessa análise de conteúdo resultaram três narrativas sobre racialização e esporte: as que se amparam em um essencialismo biológico, outras que naturalizam as desigualdades sociais e raciais e ainda aquelas que apresentam visões críticas às hierarquias raciais. Além disso, foi realizada uma análise das narrativas sobre a atuação profissional em psicologia do esporte e seu papel diante do racismo, questionando se é possível pensar em uma psicologia do esporte antirracista / This thesis is one of the possible results from the academic gap regarding the intersection of three fields: sport, psychology and race relations. The articulation between them takes place from its objective: to analyze the process of racialization in the sporting context from the narratives of professionals of psychology. The concepts of race, racialization, racism, white supremacy and whiteness are presented and contextualized, since they were important for the construction of the text. In its theoretical scope, the thesis presents and deepens the discussion about modern sport, but unlike the established literature of the sports field, there is a focus on the role of this institution in the consolidation of white supremacy in the context of European colonialism from the XIX century. Next, it is elaborated a literature review on the study of racial relations and sport, as well as the contribution of psychology on the subject. Finally, there is a Brazilian historical panorama on the psychology of sport and race relations, pointing to the problems faced by the area when proposing an antiracist work. The empirical field is composed of eight semi-structured interviews with psychologists (four women and four men) who worked at some point in their careers in sports. Their content is analyzed from the theoretical framework of Critical Race Theory. This analysis of content resulted in three narratives about racialization and sport: those that rely on a biological essentialism, others that naturalize social and racial inequalities and those that present critical views of racial hierarchies. In addition, an analysis of the narratives about the work in sport psychology and its role in the face of racism was carried out, questioning whether it is possible to think of an antiracist sport psychology

São escassos os estudos que analisam o contínuo temporal dos estados de ânimo ao longo de um período competitivo esportivo. Embora os estados de ânimo pareçam estáveis ao longo do tempo, diferentes estímulos e contextos presentes modificam a intensidade e a valência desses estados. Além disso, há fenômenos psicológicos como decaimento, em que traços de informação perdem sua ativação devido, principalmente, à passagem do tempo e a expectativa, que é a espera pela ocorrência de um evento em um determinado tempo. O objetivo desse estudo foi examinar as alterações dos estados de ânimo em jovens atletas de futebol, separados por posição e função, que ocorreram num período competitivo, em função do decurso temporal. Assim, processos como decaimento dos estados de ânimo e a influência da expectativa pela ocorrência jogo foram analisados, bem como a influência do contexto nas variações dos estados de ânimo dos atletas. Participaram deste estudo 18 jovens atletas (média de 15,4 anos ± 0,266) de um clube de futebol que estava disputando um campeonato estadual. Para o acesso aos estados de ânimo, foi utilizada a versão reduzida da Lista de Estados de Ânimo Presentes (LEAP), juntamente com um formulário de instruções de preenchimento, aplicada minutos antes de alguns treinamentos e jogos. Foram calculados os valores de presença de cada Fator da LEAP em cada evento para cada participante. Os dados foram coletados em três tipos de Eventos: antes do último treino antecedente ao jogo (Treino-Pré), antes do jogo (Pré-jogo) e antes do primeiro treino subsequente ao jogo (Treino-Pós). Os 18 jogadores foram divididos em dois grupos: Ações Defensivas (AD) e Ações Ofensivas (AO). Foram encontrados padrões de alteração dos estados de ânimo, representados pelos Fatores II (Fadiga), VII (Interesse) e XII (Serenidade) da LEAP, em função do decurso temporal, permitindo a análise dos processos de decaimento desses estados de ânimo e a influência da expectativa nessas alterações. Também foi encontrado que alguns estados de ânimo diferiram seus padrões de alteração de acordo com um intervalo temporal (Fatores IV Limerência/Empatia e; VII Interesse), bem como tiveram valores de presença diferentes na comparação entre esses intervalos. Além disso, os Fatores III (Esperança), V (Fisiológico) e XI (Receptividade) apresentaram padrões de alteração em função do decurso temporal em diferentes intervalos temporais. Variáveis contextuais, como o resultado das partidas e a competição esportiva em si, também foram influentes nessas alterações. Fadiga, esperança, empatia, estados ligados à propriocepção, interesse, receptividade e serenidade foram os estados de ânimo presentes durante todo o estudo. Ressalta-se a importância de incluir a temporalidade como variável influente nos modelos de variação de processos neurobiológicos, sobretudo nas investigações acerca de aspectos subjetivos como os estados de ânimo. / There are few studies analyzing the time course of mood during a competitive sports season. Although moods seem stable over the time course, different stimuli and present contexts change their intensity and valence. Furthermore, there are psychological phenomena like the decay process, in which information traces lose activation with the passage of time and expectancy, which is a waiting for an occurrence of an event in a given time. Therefore, the aim of this study was to exam mood changes in youth soccer players, grouped by position and role, which occurred during a competitive season, in function of time course. Processes like mood decay and the influence of expectation for the game were analyzed, as well as the influence of context in the athletes mood variations. Eighteen young players (15.4 ± 0,266 year-old) from a soccer club, which was playing for a state championship, participated in this study. For the assessment of mood, a short form of Lista de Estados de Ânimo Presentes (LEAP Present Mood List) was used, along with instructions to fill the form, applied few moments before some training sessions and matches. Presence values of each LEAPs Factor were calculated for each participant in each event. The data was collected in three types of events: prior to the last trainning session before the match (Treino-Pré), at a few moments before the match (Pré-jogo) and prior to the first training session after the match. The eighteen players were divided in two groups: Defensive Actions (AD) and Offensive Actions (AO). Results have shown patterns of mood changes, represented by LEAPs Factors II (Fatigue), VII (Interest) and XII (Serenity), in function of time course, allowing the analysis of mood decay process and the influence of the expectation in these changes. Also, some moods showed different patterns in function of a given time interval (Factors IV Limerence/Empathy and VII Interest), as well as different presence values in these time intervals comparison. Moreover, Factors III (Hope), V (Physiologic) and XI (Receptivity) have shown patterns of mood changes in function of time course in different intervals of time. Contextual variables, like the outcome of the matches and the sport competition itself, were influential in these changes. Fatigue, hope, empathy, states related to proprioception, interest, receptivity and serenity were the present moods all along the study. The importance of including temporality as an influential variable in neurobiological models is noteworthy, especially in the investigations about subjective aspects like mood.

O estudo buscou dois objetivos: 1) conhecer o sentido dado por atletas à sua prática esportiva, tendo como referencial teórico a perspectiva fenomenológica existencial; 2) questionar alguns conteúdos próprios à Psicologia do Esporte, na tentativa de contrapor a experiência real do atleta às teorias propostas por esse campo de conhecimento, procurando apontar alguns de seus possíveis limites. Encontrou-se que o sentido dado pelos atletas à sua prática esportiva é absolutamente singular e que não pode ser definido com precisão, nem apreendido como conceito, por ser particular, de difícil verbalização e, como fenômeno, permanece em constante movimento de revelação e ocultamento. Desse modo, as categorizações e os conceitos utilizados pela Psicologia do Esporte se mostraram pouco compatíveis com a experiência real dos atletas. Assim, considera-se uma forma de cuidado psicológico que procure compreender, eticamente, como o sentido dado à prática configura o próprio projeto ser atleta no mundo esportivo particularizado pela experiência de cada um. / The study searched two objectives: 1) to know the meaning given for athletes to their sports practice, theoretically supported by the existential phenomenology perspective; 2) to question some proper contents of Sport Psychology, in the attempt to confront the athletes real experience to the theoretical proposals in that field of knowledge, trying for to point out some of its possible limits. It have been found that the direction given for the athletes to their sports practice is absolutely singular and cannot be defined with precision, nor apprehended as concept, cause it is particular, sometimes unspeakable and, as phenomenon, remains in constant movement between revelation and hide. Therefore, used characterizations and concepts from Sport Psychology show little compatible with the athletes real experience. Thus, other mode for psychological care is needed, ethically considering how a given sense to practice configures the own project being athlete in sportive world, particularized by oneselfs experience.

São poucos os estudos sobre gestão de carreira esportiva abordando os processos de transição, seus ciclos e a pós-carreira atlética nas Ciências do Esporte. É também incomum o uso de métodos de pesquisa que utilizam entrevistas abertas com atletas e pós-atletas que abordam de forma abrangente a vida do atleta onde esse tópico está inserido. No caso específico do futebol o jornalismo de uma forma geral costuma explorar esse tema, principalmente com a intenção de denunciar situações que contradizem o glamour e a visibilidade que o atleta vive durante a fase produtiva da carreira. A modalidade foi escolhida pelo poder de influência nas políticas públicas nacionais, e por apresentar um grupo expressivo de atletas que vivenciou tanto a fase amadora quanto a profissional. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar e analisar como se dá o processo de gestão da carreira esportiva entre atletas olímpicos do futebol que também viveram uma carreira longeva no futebol profissional a partir da perspectiva da transformação da identidade nos diferentes ciclos que compõem a carreira do atleta. Busca discutir os processos de formação de identidade atlética, bem como as formas de gestão profissional da carreira esportiva apontando significados e sentidos no decorrer do seu desenvolvimento, em sua finalização e na construção de uma nova carreira. Para tanto foram intencionalmente selecionados 12 atletas, 10 deles já afastados da atividade profissional e 02 atletas ainda em atividade, todos eles acima de 33 anos de idade, originários de várias regiões do Brasil. O método utilizado foi as narrativas biográficas de atletas brasileiros que fizeram parte de pelo menos uma seleção brasileira que participou de uma edição dos Jogos Olímpicos entre as décadas de 1960 e 2000. A tese defende que a gestão da carreira esportiva é feita na relação que o indivíduo tem com sua carreira subjetiva e com a carreira construída socialmente, viabilizando o conceito de carreira como projeto de vida seguindo as ideias propostas pelo paradigma Life Design / There are few studies about sports management career addressing the processes of transition, their cycles and post athletic career in sports science. It is also unusual using research methods that use open interviews with athletes and post athletes which approach in a widely way the athlete\'s life where this topic is inserted. In the specific case of football, journalism in general, tends to explore this topic, principally intending to report situations that contradict the glamour and visibility that the athlete lives during his productive phase of the career. The modality was chosen by the influence power in national public policies, and for presenting an impressive group of athletes who experienced both amateur and professional phases. The objective of this research was to identify and analyze how it is the process of managing career among Olympic athletes in football who also lived one long-lived career in professional football from the perspective of identity transformation in the different cycles that make up the athlete\'s career. It is worth to discuss the formation processes of athletic identity, as well as the ways of management of professional sports career pointing its meanings and feelings during its development, in its finalization and in the construction of a new career. However, it was intentionally selected 12 athletes, 10 of them already removed from the professional activity, and 2 others yet in activity, all of them over 33 years old from several parts of Brazil. For both, the method used was the biographical narratives of Brazilian athletes who took part of at least one Brazilian team that participated of an edition of the Olympic Games between the decades of 1960 and 2000. The thesis argues that the management of sports career is made based on the relation the individual has with his subjective career and the career socially built enabling the career concept as a life project following the ideas proposed by the paradigm, Life Design