IMPLEMENTATION OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION IN JUNIOR CATEGORIES OF FOOTBALL, ATHLETES' SUBJECTIVE SATISFACTION AND EXPERIENCES OF PASSION, PERCEIVED COMPETENCE AND COMMITMENT IN RELATION TO THE INTENTION OF FUTURE PRACTICE

Abstract

Estefanía Navarrón, Débora Godoy-Izquierdo, Mercedes Vélez, María J. Ramírez-Molina y Manuel G. Jiménez-Torres

This paper describes a psychological skills training implemented in a football team of young players and reports athletes' subjective satisfaction with the intervention. Besides, experiences of passion, perceived competence and sport commitment were explored after the intervention, as well as their relationship with players' intention of future participation in athletic activities and competition and of maintaining membership in the same club. Twelve 13 to 16 years old male players belonging to a local football club were involved. The intervention was incorporated into the general athletic training and consisted on a training of basic mental skills for young athletes; it was conducted during 12 weeks in both individual- and group-format. The results show a positive evaluation of the intervention by the participants and a high subjective satisfaction; 100% of participants indicated their desire to continue with the psychological training during the following season. In addition, those players with higher levels of passion for football reported stronger intention to keep training and competing in the future as well as of membership to the same club.