Mental skills training in soccer: A drill-based approach

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mental skills training in soccer

T2 - A drill-based approach

AU - Diment, Gregory Michael

N1 - CURIS 2014 NEXS 080

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Psychological Skills Training (PST) has been a tool used by sport psychology consultants. However, within soccer many of these programs have been delivered as workshops, homework tasks, or individual consultations with athletes. The aim of the project was to develop an ecological intervention by creating a series of drillbased sessions to train psychological skills, and educate coaches about how to implement and integrate PST as a natural part of daily training. The program was delivered to the youth academies in nine Danish professional soccer clubs and consisted of three phases: (a) planning of the program, (b) education and designing soccer drills, and (c) delivery of the drills on the soccer pitch. Theprogram was well received by clubs, coaches, and players. With regards to project aims, the intervention was generally considered a success. Coaches reported that the drill-based nature of the program was practical and relevant to young players’ development of psychological skills and many players and coaches have continuedworking with this approach. However, success varied across the nine clubs and was influenced by factors such as the clubs’ willingness and capacity to adopt new concepts, the presentation of sport psychology in soccer language, and time constraints.

AB - Psychological Skills Training (PST) has been a tool used by sport psychology consultants. However, within soccer many of these programs have been delivered as workshops, homework tasks, or individual consultations with athletes. The aim of the project was to develop an ecological intervention by creating a series of drillbased sessions to train psychological skills, and educate coaches about how to implement and integrate PST as a natural part of daily training. The program was delivered to the youth academies in nine Danish professional soccer clubs and consisted of three phases: (a) planning of the program, (b) education and designing soccer drills, and (c) delivery of the drills on the soccer pitch. Theprogram was well received by clubs, coaches, and players. With regards to project aims, the intervention was generally considered a success. Coaches reported that the drill-based nature of the program was practical and relevant to young players’ development of psychological skills and many players and coaches have continuedworking with this approach. However, success varied across the nine clubs and was influenced by factors such as the clubs’ willingness and capacity to adopt new concepts, the presentation of sport psychology in soccer language, and time constraints.

U2 - 10.1080/21520704.2013.865005

DO - 10.1080/21520704.2013.865005

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2152-0704

VL - 5

SP - 14

EP - 27

JO - Journal of Sport Psychology in Action

JF - Journal of Sport Psychology in Action

IS - 1

ER -