Ibrahim Zakaria Kahlouche1, Oussama Kessouri2
1Laboratory of studies and researches in sciences and techniques of physical and sports activities, Institute of sciences and techniques of physical and sports activities, University of Biskra, Algeria
2Department of Sciences and Techniques of Physical and Sports Activities, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Jijel
Coaches’ practices and perspectives on mental and physical preparation in amateur soccer in Skikda Province, Algeria: A pilot study
J. Anthr. Sport Phys. Educ. 2024, 8(1), 11-17 | DOI: 10.26773/jaspe.240102
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify the practices and perceptions of coaches on mental and physical preparation in Skikda province, Algeria. The sample consisted of 40 coaches of senior amateur soccer teams. A cross-sectional design was employed in this study. An electronic questionnaire was distributed online to collect data. It consisted of six sections, including informed consent from the coaches, demographics, mental preparation, physical preparation, the relationship between mental and physical preparation, and the challenges coaches face in preparing players mentally and physically. The results revealed that the majority of amateur soccer coaches believe that the goal of mental preparation for amateur soccer players is to enhance self-confidence, improve focus, develop decision-making skills, and alleviate pressure and anxiety before competition. They also see the goal of physical preparation as developing aerobic and anaerobic endurance, injury prevention, and enhancing strength and power. However, their practices in both mental and physical preparation were limited. Regarding the relationship between mental and physical preparation, coaches emphasized the importance of both aspects for amateur players. The absence of sports psychologists, a lack of modern technological resources for training, and limited sports facilities were identified as significant challenges hindering the process of mental and physical preparation. Based on these results, the researchers recommend addressing the identified challenges and reinforce the idea of paying more attention to amateur soccer in Algeria.
Keywords
Mental preparation, physical preparation, amateur soccer, coaches’ practices and perspectives
View full article
(PDF – 370KB)
References
Bangsbo, J., Mohr, M., Poulsen, A., Perez-Gomez, J., Krustrup, P. (2006). Training and testing the elite athlete. Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness, 4(1), 1-14.
Beere, M., Jeffreys, I. (2021). Physical testing and monitoring practices in elite male football. Professional strength and conditioning, 62, 29-42.
Chmura, P., Oliva-Lozano, J. M., Muyor, J. M., Andrzejewski, M., Chmura, J., Czarniecki, S., Kowalczuk, E., Rokita, A., & Konefał, M. (2022). Physical Performance Indicators and Team Success in the German Soccer League. Journal of human kinetics, 83, 257–265. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2022-0099
Ehrmann, F. E., Duncan, C. S., Sindhusake, D., Franzsen, W. N., & Greene, D. A. (2016). GPS and Injury Prevention in Professional Soccer. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 30(2), 360–367. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001093
Elerian, A. E., El-Sayyad, M. M., and Dorgham, H. (2019). Effect of Pre-training and Post-training Nordic Exercise on Hamstring Injury Prevention, Recurrence, and Severity in Soccer Players. Annals of rehabilitation medicine, 43(4), 465–473. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2019.43.4.465
Fossati, C., Torre, G., Vasta, S., Giombini, A., Quaranta, F., Papalia, R., & Pigozzi, F. (2021). Physical Exercise and Mental Health: The Routes of a Reciprocal Relation. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(23), 12364. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312364
Foster, C., Rodriguez-Marroyo, J. A., & de Koning, J. J. (2017). Monitoring Training Loads: The Past, the Present, and the Future. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 12(Suppl 2), S22–S28. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2016-0388
Freitas, S., Dias, C., Fonseca, A. (2013). How do elite soccer coaches prepare their players and teams psychologically? Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 13(3), 321-329.
Healy, L., Tincknell-Smith, A., & Ntoumanis, N. (2018). Goal Setting in Sport and Performance. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology. https://doi.org/ 10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.152
Higham, D. G., Hopkins, W. G., Pyne, D. B., & Anson, J. M. (2014). Performance indicators related to points scoring and winning in international rugby sevens. Journal of sports science & medicine, 13(2), 358–364.
Hübscher, M., Zech, A., Pfeifer, K., Hänsel, F., Vogt, L., & Banzer, W. (2010). Neuromuscular training for sports injury prevention: a systematic review. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 42(3), 413–421. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181b88d37
Kahlouche, I.Z., Bezziou, A. (2021). The use of mental imagery strategy in improving technical performance by coaches of youth soccer. Journal of Sport Science Technology and Physical Activities, 18(4), 89-98. https://www.asjp.cerist.dz/en/article/169992
Kawabata, M., Zhang, L. (2018). Validity and reliability of the Sport Motivation Scale-II for Chinese athletes. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 16(1), 51–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2016.1153130
Kebaili, L., Kessouri, O., Talhi, I., & Chelighem, A. (2023). Exercise-Based Injury Prevention in Amateur Soccer: A Survey of Current Practices of 52 Algerian Teams. Journal of Anthropology of Sport and Physical Education, 7(2), 13-17. 10.26773/jaspe.230403
Kessouri, O. (2023). Match performance difference between African and Top Five teams in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. Trends in Sport Sciences, 30(1), 5-11. 10.23829/TSS.2023.30.1-1
Kessouri, O., Dachri, H. (2021). Effect of neuromuscular warm up on explosive strength and change of direction ability of soccer players. Journal of Sport Science Technology and Physical Activities, 18(1), 154-165. 10.54031/2070-018-001-013
Kumari, S., Kumar, J. (2016). MIND TRAINING TECHNIQUES AND SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO MENTAL SKILLS FOR ACHIEVING OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE. International Journal of Advanced Research. 4(3). 523-535.
López-Valenciano, A., Ruiz-Pérez, I., García-Gómez, A., Vera-García, F.J., De Ste Croix, M., Myer, G., and Ayala, F. (2019). Epidemiology of injuries in professional football: A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(12), 711-719. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports2018-099577
Loturco, I., Freitas, T. T., Alcaraz, P. E., Kobal, R., Hartmann Nunes, R. F., Weldon, A., & Pereira, L. A. (2022). Practices of strength and conditioning coaches in Brazilian elite soccer. Biology of sport, 39(3), 779–791. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2022.108703
McAuley, E. & Gill, D.L. (1983). Reliability and validity of the Physical Self-Efficacy Scale in a competitive sport setting. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 5, 410-418.
McCall, A., Davison, M., Andersen, T. E., Beasley, I., Bizzini, M., Dupont, G., Duffield, R., Carling, C., & Dvorak, J. (2015). Injury prevention strategies at the FIFA 2014 World Cup: perceptions and practices of the physicians from the 32 participating national teams. British journal of sports medicine, 49(9), 603–608. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094747
McCall, A., Pruna, R., Van der Horst, N., Dupont, G., Buchheit, M., Coutts, A.J., Impellizzeri, F.M. and Fanchini, M. (2020). Exercise Based Strategies to Prevent Muscle Injury in Male Elite Footballers: An Expert Led Delphi Survey of 21 Practitioners Belonging to 18 Teams from the Big 5 European Leagues. Sports Medicine, 50(9), 1653-1666. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01282-z
McQuilliam, S. J., Clark, D. R., Erskine, R. M., & Brownlee, T. E. (2023). Physical testing and strength and conditioning practices differ between coaches working in academy and first team soccer. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 18(4), 1045–1055. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541231155108
Memmert, D., Lemmink, K. A. P. M., & Sampaio, J. (2017). Current Approaches to Tactical Performance Analyses in Soccer Using Position Data. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 47(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0562-5
Miguel, M., Oliveira, R., Loureiro, N., García-Rubio, J., & Ibáñez, S. J. (2021). Load Measures in Training/Match Monitoring in Soccer: A Systematic Review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(5), 2721. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052721
Modric, T., Malone, J. J., Versic, S., Andrzejewski, M., Chmura, P., Konefał, M., Drid, P., & Sekulic, D. (2022). The influence of physical performance on technical and tactical outcomes in the UEFA Champions League. BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 14(1), 179. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-022-00573-4
Nédélec, M., McCall, A., Carling, C., Legall, F., Berthoin, S., & Dupont, G. (2013). Recovery in soccer : part ii-recovery strategies. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 43(1), 9–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-012-0002-0
Neto, M., Da silva., M.M., Araujo, A.D., De Jesus, F.L.A., Carvalho, V.O., da Conceicao, C.S. (2016). Effects of the FIFA 11 training program on injury prevention and performance in football players: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Physical Therapy in Sport, 18(1), 1-9. 10.1016/j.ptsp.2015.11.024
Orer, G.E., Arslan, E. (2016). The relationships among acceleration, agility, sprinting ability, speed dribbling ability and vertical jump ability in 14-year-old soccer players. IOSR Journal of Sports and Physical Education, 3(2), 29-34. 10.13140/RG.2.1.3165.4008
Petersen, J., Thorborg, K., Nielsen, M. B., Budtz-Jørgensen, E., and Hölmich, P. (2011). Preventive effect of eccentric training on acute hamstring injuries in men's soccer: a cluster-randomized controlled trial. The American journal of sports medicine, 39(11), 2296–2303. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546511419277
Ribeiro, J., Madeira, J., Dias, C., Stewart, L.R., Côrte-Real, N., & Fonseca, A.M. (2015). The Use of Imagery by Portuguese Soccer Goalkeepers. Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity, 10, 17 - 9.
Sariati, D., Zouhal, H., Hammami, R., Clark, C. C. T., Nebigh, A., Chtara, M., Hackney, A. C., Souissi, N., Granacher, U., & Ben Ounis, O. (2021). Association Between Mental Imagery and Change of Direction Performance in Young Elite Soccer Players of Different Maturity Status. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 665508. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.665508
Sarkar, M., & Fletcher, D. (2014). Psychological resilience in sport performers: a review of stressors and protective factors. Journal of sports sciences, 32(15), 1419–1434. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2014.901551
Schiftan, G. S., Ross, L. A., & Hahne, A. J. (2015). The effectiveness
Seif-Barghi, T., Kordi, R., Memari, A. H., Mansournia, M. A., & Jalali-Ghomi, M. (2012). The effect of an ecological imagery program on soccer performance of elite players. Asian journal of sports medicine, 3(2), 81–89. https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34703
Stølen, T., Chamari, K., Castagna, C., & Wisløff, U. (2005). Physiology of soccer: an update. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 35(6), 501–536. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200535060-00004
Tomlin, D.L., Wenger, H.A. (2001). The Relationship Between Aerobic Fitness and Recovery from High Intensity Intermittent Exercise, Sports medicine, 31(1), 1-11. 10.2165/00007256-200131010-00001
Turner, A., Stewart, P. (2014). Strength and Conditioning for Soccer Players. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 36(4), 1-13. 10.1519/SSC.0000000000000054
Walker, G.J., & Hawkins, R.D. (2017). Structuring a Program in Elite Professional Soccer. Strength and Conditioning Journal. 40(3), 72-82. 10.1519/SSC.0000000000000345
Weldon, A., Duncan, M. J., Turner, A., Sampaio, J., Noon, M., Wong, D. P., & Lai, V. W. (2021). Contemporary practices of strength and conditioning coaches in professional soccer. Biology of sport, 38(3), 377–390. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2021.99328
World Medical Association (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA, 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053
Zach, S., Dobersek, U., Filho, E., Inglis, V., Tenenbaum, G. (2018). A meta-analysis of mental imagery effects on post-injury functional mobility, perceived pain, and self-efficacy. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 34, 79-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.09.011
Junge, A., Dvorak, J., Rösch, D., Graf-Baumann, T., Chomiak, J., & Peterson, L. (2000). Psychological and sport-specific characteristics of football players. The American journal of sports medicine, 28(5 Suppl), S22–S28. https://doi.org/10.1177/28.suppl_5.s-22
Najah, A. and Rejeb, R. (2016) Psychological Characteristics of Male Youth Soccer Players: Specificity of Mental Attributes According to Age Categories. Advances in Physical Education, 6, 19-26. https://doi.org/10.4236/ape.2016.61003