Functional asymmetry in a simple coincidence-anticipation task: Effects of handedness

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether quality of self-determined motivation at the start of the competitive season in elite athletes and symptoms of overtraining can predict athlete burnout propensity at the end of the season. The participants were 141 elite winter sport athletes. In September, at the beginning of the season, the athletes responded to a self-determined motivation questionnaire, while they answered questions assessing overtraining symptoms and burnout in March, at the end of the season. Findings indicated that self-determined motivation and symptoms of overtraining were negatively and positively linked respectively to dimensions of athlete burnout. The results suggest that self-determined motivation and symptoms of overtraining are both independently linked to signs of burnout in elite athletes and that although no moderating effect was found, pairing self-determined motivation with symptoms of overtraining increased the prediction of burnout in athletes at the end of the season. Our findings are in line with those of recent research (Cresswell & Eklund, 2005; Lemyre, Treasure, & Roberts, 2006) and support a motivational approach to study burnout in elite athletes.     

Goal orientations, motivational climate, and prosocial and antisocial behaviour in youth football: exploring their temporal stability and reciprocal relationships

In this study, we examined the temporal stability and reciprocal relationships among task and ego orientation, task- and ego-involving climates, and prosocial and antisocial behaviour in youth football. Male (n = 156) and female (n = 24) footballers (mean age 14.1 years, s = 1.8) completed questionnaires towards the beginning and end of a regular season. Questionnaires measured goal orientation, perceived motivational climate, and frequency of prosocial and antisocial behaviours. Structural equation modelling indicated moderate covariance stability between the beginning and end of the season. Subsequent analyses revealed a significant decrease only in perceptions of task-involving climate. In the cross-lagged analyses, prosocial behaviour at the beginning of the season positively predicted task-involving climate at the end of the season. Antisocial behaviour at the beginning of the season positively predicted both ego orientation and ego-involving climate at the end of the season and a reciprocal relationship was revealed whereby ego orientation at the beginning of the season positively predicted antisocial behaviour at the end of the season. Task orientation at the beginning of the season negatively predicted ego-involving climate at the end of the season. All cross-lagged relationships were weak. This exploratory study offers limited support for bi-directional relationships between personal, environmental, and behavioural variables but provides useful insight into the covariance stability, change, and interrelationships between motivational and moral constructs over a competitive season.     

Goal orientations,motivational climate,and prosocial and antisocial behaviour in youth football: Exploring their temporal stability and reciprocal relationships

Abstract

In this study, we examined the temporal stability and reciprocal relationships among task and ego orientation, task- and ego-involving climates, and prosocial and antisocial behaviour in youth football. Male (n = 156) and female (n = 24) footballers (mean age 14.1 years, s = 1.8) completed questionnaires towards the beginning and end of a regular season. Questionnaires measured goal orientation, perceived motivational climate, and frequency of prosocial and antisocial behaviours. Structural equation modelling indicated moderate covariance stability between the beginning and end of the season. Subsequent analyses revealed a significant decrease only in perceptions of task-involving climate. In the cross-lagged analyses, prosocial behaviour at the beginning of the season positively predicted task-involving climate at the end of the season. Antisocial behaviour at the beginning of the season positively predicted both ego orientation and ego-involving climate at the end of the season and a reciprocal relationship was revealed whereby ego orientation at the beginning of the season positively predicted antisocial behaviour at the end of the season. Task orientation at the beginning of the season negatively predicted ego-involving climate at the end of the season. All cross-lagged relationships were weak. This exploratory study offers limited support for bi-directional relationships between personal, environmental, and behavioural variables but provides useful insight into the covariance stability, change, and interrelationships between motivational and moral constructs over a competitive season.     

凝聚力对教练员领导行为、运动员角色投入和运动员满意度的中介作用

探讨我国高水平手球队凝聚力是否对教练员领导行为、运动员角色投入与运动员满意度具有中介作用。赛前使用群体环境问卷对160名参加全国女子手球锦标赛的运动员进行凝聚力测试，赛后使用运动领导行为量表、运动员角色投入问卷、运动员满意度问卷对上述运动员进行了测试。运用Baron和Kenny（1986）线性回归分析方法对凝聚力的中介作用给予检验。结果表明，运动员所知觉到的领导行为和角色投入对团队成绩满意度、团队一致满意度影响显著，但该影响由于凝聚力的加入而变小或变得不显著。说明凝聚力对领导行为、角色投入与团队成绩满意度、团队一致性满意度具有中介作用。     

运动员满意度研究述评

通过对国内外运动员满意度的研究现状进行综述,探讨该问题在我国运动领域的研究取向,提出应该研制适合中国文化背景及运动队训练体制的运动员满意度量表;分析教练员执教行为对运动员满意度的影响作用以及满意度对运动员赛前焦虑的预测作用。从而为运动员获得最佳竞技状态提供理论指导,为我国运动心理学的发展与完善提供借鉴。     

Promoting additional activity in youth soccer: a half-longitudinal study on the influence of autonomy-supportive coaching and basic psychological need satisfaction

This study investigated the relationships between perceptions of coach autonomy support, basic psychological need satisfaction and the frequency at which youth soccer players engage in additional soccer activity outside of team sessions. We employed structural equation modelling to test a two-wave (T1 and T2) half-longitudinal study to see if basic psychological need satisfaction mediated the relationship between coach autonomy support and additional soccer activity across a competitive season. The sample consisted of 527 youth soccer players, aged 10–15 years. Results revealed moderate to strong temporal stability for autonomy, competence, relatedness and frequency of additional soccer activity. Furthermore, no support is offered for mediation as T1 coach autonomy support was not related to any of the three basic needs at T2 when accounting for their T1 levels. However, a positive relationship between T1 autonomy and T2 additional soccer activity emerged. This suggests that those who experience high levels of autonomy in the team setting at the start of the season report an increased frequency of additional activity at the end of the season. Results are discussed in light of the Self-Determination Theory and the Trans-Contextual Model.     

我国运动员满意度现状研究:以北京市专业运动员为例

以满意理论为基础,结合我国运动员管理体制的特点,以北京市的专业运动员为例研究了我国运动员的满意度。结果发现,由于运动员管理体制的差异,国外已开发的运动员满意度量表并不完全适合于测量中国运动员,影响我国运动员满意度的因素主要包括个体状况、队伍合作、训练状况、训练及辅助条件、教练因素、收入与福利、保障条件、比赛状态和退役保障。对我国运动员满意度影响较大且运动员评价较高的因素有教练因素、个体状况和比赛状态,对运动员影响较大且评价较低的因素是退役保证。     

Coaching competency and satisfaction with the coach: A multi-level structural equation model

Abstract

The purpose of this initial predictive validity study was to determine the ability of measures derived from the Athletes' Perceptions of Coaching Competency Scale II – High School Teams (APCCS II-HST) to predict satisfaction with the head coach. Specification of the statistical model was informed by the mediational model of coach–athlete interactions. The technical quality of the satisfaction measure was evaluated before testing the predictive validity of the coaching competency measures. Data were collected from athletes of seven sports. Athlete observations (N = 748) were clustered within teams (G = 74). Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) provided evidence for factorial invariance of a reduced version of the satisfaction measure by athlete gender. Multi-level CFA provided evidence of model–data consistency for a reduced version of the satisfaction measure. Multi-level structural equation modelling provided evidence for the ability of latent coaching competency to positively predict latent satisfaction at both the athlete level (technique competency and motivation competency) and the team level (coaching competency) and for close model–data fit. Implications of this study include: that the APCCS II-HST should be viewed as a replacement for the Coaching Competency Scale when the intended population is appropriate; a preliminary multi-level measurement model for satisfaction with one's coach that should be considered as a potential starting point in subsequent studies; and empirical support for a key relationship proposed in the mediational model of coach–athlete interactions.     

大学生运动员训练比赛满意度与领导行为期待研究

研究分析了大学生运动员训练比赛满意度和对教练员领导行为的期待状况,并初探了大学生运动员训练比赛满意度与对教练员领导行为期待的关系,旨在为高校运动训练提供参考。     

The mediating role of social environmental factors in the associations between attachment styles and basic needs satisfaction

Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the mediating role of social factors on the associations between attachment styles and basic psychological needs satisfaction within two relational contexts. Athletes (N = 215) completed a multi-section questionnaire pertaining to attachment styles, basic needs satisfied within the coaching and the parental relational context, and such social factors as social support, interpersonal conflict, autonomy and controlling behaviours. Bootstrap mediation analysis revealed that the association between avoidant attachment style and basic needs satisfaction with the coach was mediated by social support and autonomy-related behaviours from the coach. The association between avoidant attachment style and basic needs satisfaction with the parent on the other hand was mediated by all social factors investigated. Finally, the association between anxious attachment style and basic needs satisfaction from the parent was mediated by conflict and controlling behaviours. Overall, the findings of the current study suggest that social factors play an important role in explaining the associations between attachment styles and basic needs satisfaction within two central relational contexts athletes operate in, and thus should be targeted in future interventions.     

Coaching competency and satisfaction with the coach: a multi-level structural equation model

The purpose of this initial predictive validity study was to determine the ability of measures derived from the Athletes' Perceptions of Coaching Competency Scale II?-?High School Teams (APCCS II-HST) to predict satisfaction with the head coach. Specification of the statistical model was informed by the mediational model of coach-athlete interactions. The technical quality of the satisfaction measure was evaluated before testing the predictive validity of the coaching competency measures. Data were collected from athletes of seven sports. Athlete observations (N?=?748) were clustered within teams (G?=?74). Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) provided evidence for factorial invariance of a reduced version of the satisfaction measure by athlete gender. Multi-level CFA provided evidence of model-data consistency for a reduced version of the satisfaction measure. Multi-level structural equation modelling provided evidence for the ability of latent coaching competency to positively predict latent satisfaction at both the athlete level (technique competency and motivation competency) and the team level (coaching competency) and for close model-data fit. Implications of this study include: that the APCCS II-HST should be viewed as a replacement for the Coaching Competency Scale when the intended population is appropriate; a preliminary multi-level measurement model for satisfaction with one's coach that should be considered as a potential starting point in subsequent studies; and empirical support for a key relationship proposed in the mediational model of coach-athlete interactions.     

The predictive ability of the frequency of perfectionistic cognitions, self-oriented perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism in relation to symptoms of burnout in youth rugby players

Perfectionism has been identified as an antecedent of athlete burnout. However, to date, researchers examining the relationship between perfectionism and athlete burnout have measured perfectionism at a trait level. The work of Flett and colleagues (Flett, Hewitt, Blankstein, & Gray, 1998) suggests that perfectionism can also be assessed in terms of individual differences in the frequency with which they experience perfectionistic cognitions. The aims of this study were to: (1)examine the relationship between the frequency of perfectionistic cognitions and symptoms of athlete burnout; and (2)determine whether the frequency of perfectionistic cognitions account for additional unique variance in symptoms of athlete burnout above the variance accounted for by self-oriented and socially prescribed dimensions of perfectionism. Two-hundred and two male rugby players (mean age 18.8 years, s?=?2.9, range 16-24) were recruited from youth teams of professional and semi-professional rugby union clubs in the UK. Participants completed measures of trait perfectionism, frequency of perfectionistic cognitions, and symptoms of athlete burnout. The frequency of perfectionistic cognitions was positively related to all symptoms of athlete burnout and explained 3-4% unique variance in symptoms of athlete burnout after controlling for self-oriented and socially prescribed dimensions of perfectionism. Findings suggest that the frequency with which perfectionistic cognitions are experienced may also be an antecedent of athlete burnout. Perfectionistic cognitions should, therefore, be considered in both future models of the relationship between perfectionism and athlete burnout, as well as interventions aimed at reducing perfectionism fuelled burnout.     

On the same page in sporting dyads: does dissimilarity on 2 x 2 achievement goal constructs impair relationship functioning?

This study examined the extent to which 2 x 2 achievement goal constructs (Elliot, 1999) were associated with key relational perceptions (i.e., relationship commitment, relationship satisfaction) for members of athlete-athlete dyads. Both members from 82 regional-level partnerships (mean age = 22.72, SD = 3.83) were recruited from a variety of dyadic sports (e.g., tennis, badminton, rowing). Actor-partner interdependence model analyses revealed that greater dissimilarity between partners on mastery-approach and performance-approach goals was associated with lower commitment and satisfaction. Mastery goals displayed positive actor effects with respect to both relationship perceptions, whereas performance-avoidance goals were negatively related to commitment (i.e., actor and partner effects) and satisfaction (i.e., partner effect). These results indicate that achievement goal constructs may align with important interpersonal perceptions in athlete dyads.     

Exploring sport participants’ event and destination choices

ABSTRACT

This study explored the relationship between destination and event elements and an individual’s motivation to travel for sport events. Investigators surveyed participants who were planning to travel or had recently travelled to at least one running, cycling, or triathlon event in the current competitive race season. Data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis, regression, cross-tabulation, and ANOVA. The findings provide empirical evidence that travel behaviours vary by athlete type (runner, triathlete, and cyclist). The results of this study not only add to the push/pull theoretical framework but also provide strong practical implications for both event managers and destination marketers to better package destination attributes and event elements specific to athlete type.     

A season-long team-building intervention: examining the effect of team goal setting on cohesion

The purpose of the current study was to determine whether the implementation of a season-long team-building intervention program using team goal setting increased perceptions of cohesion. The participants were 86 female high school basketball players from 8 teams. The teams were randomly assigned to either an experimental team goal-setting or control condition. Each participant completed the Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ; Carron, Brawley, & Widmeyer, 2002; Carron, Widmeyer, & Brawley, 1985), which assessed cohesion at both the beginning and end of the season. Overall, the results revealed a significant multivariate effect, Pillai's trace F(12, 438) = 2.68, p = .002. Post hoc analyses showed that at the beginning of the season, athletes from both conditions did not differ in their perceptions of cohesion. However, at the end of the season, athletes in the team goal-setting condition held higher perceptions of cohesion than athletes in the control condition. Overall, the results indicated that team goal setting was an effective team-building tool for influencing cohesiveness in sport teams.     

基于人/杠合重心与支撑面中心关系对抓举失败原因的研究

研究运用三维运动学方法,获取评价抓举技术动作稳定性的量化指标,并对廖辉、石智勇等5名运动员8次成功试举与7次失败试举中每个特征时刻该指标进行对比分析,旨在从动作稳定性的角度分析抓举失败的原因。研究认为人/杠合重心与人体支撑面中心在前后方向的距离(两心差)是评价运动员抓举技术动作各阶段稳定性的重要指标,两心差越小,技术动作稳定性越强。抓举过程中运动员的两心差数值曲线呈现出双波峰双波谷的特点,较为合理的两心差变化趋势应该是:两心差于发力阶段初达到第一个波谷,惯性上升阶段初达到第一个波峰,于下蹲支撑初达到第二个波谷,杠铃速度最大时刻达到第二个波峰。大多数抓举试举失败都出现在接铃完成阶段,而下蹲支撑阶段两心差过大是导致运动员在接铃完成阶段无法对杠铃形成有效制动的重要原因。研究中成功试举在接铃完成阶段末两心差几乎为零;接铃完成末两心差过大,将导致运动员在上举时失去平衡。     

篮球运动员对球队的信任与训练比赛满意度、团队凝聚力的关系

研究目的:探讨篮球运动员对球队的信任与运动员训练比赛满意度和团队凝聚力之间的相互关系及作用机理.研究方法:量表测试法,将采集到的136名我国大学高水平篮球队运动员的数据运用验证性因子分析、多元线性回归、典型相关等统计方法进行处理.研究结论:篮球运动员对球队的信任能够显著正向预测运动员的训练比赛满意度;篮球运动员对球队的能力信任能够显著正向预测球队任务吸引凝聚力、球队社交吸引凝聚力、球队任务一致性凝聚力、球队社交一致性凝聚力;篮球运动员对球队的公正一致性信任能够显著正向预测球队社交吸引凝聚力、球队社交一致性凝聚力;篮球运动员对球队的信任与球队凝聚力之间具有相互作用的关系,但凝聚力对信任的影响作用更大;团队凝聚力在篮球运动员对球队的信任与运动员训练比赛满意度之间不具有中介作用.     

Athlete leadership in sport teams: Current understanding and future directions

Leadership is a fundamental aspect of sports performance, particularly within team sport environments. Over the past 25 years there has been significant research exploring the role of the coach/manager in this regard. However, this only represents one aspect of leadership within the sporting domain. Equally important, although far less examined, is the concept of athlete leadership. The role of athlete leaders, both formal (e.g., the captain) and informal (such as motivators and cultural architects) can have a significant impact upon a range of team-related factors including satisfaction, cohesion, and team dynamics. However, the mechanisms through which this impact occurs are less well understood. Also, while the development of leadership skills has been proposed as an important aspect of coach development programmes there is very little consensus regarding the approaches that should be adopted in developing athlete leaders and their associated leadership skills. This paper reviews the existing literature relating to athlete leadership seeking to provide clarity regarding current understanding. Building upon this base the paper then highlights future areas for research and theoretical development.     

专业运动员心理疲劳和心理耗竭的社会学成因分析

疲劳的生物心理社会模型提出,运动员所处的情景因素以及运动员对情景的认知评价是产生心理疲劳和心理耗竭的原因之一.运用运动员训练满意度量表和训练状态量表,通过典型相关分析对186专业运动员进行测试,结果表明:除了运动员对自身的信心投入,成长进步的满意程度是引起心理疲劳和心理耗竭的原因之外,运动员对教练的民主行为、个人关怀满意程度.对运动队的日常管理的满意程度是引起运动员心理疲劳和心理耗竭的主要社会原因.指出完善运动队的训练体系,实施科学化和人文化管理,同时提高广大教练员的执教效果,给予运动员更多的关怀是预防和消除运动性心理疲劳与心理耗竭的主要途径.     

Experiences of amateur athletes’ non-participating entourage at participatory sport events

ABSTRACT

The proliferation of participatory sport events is attracting scholarly attention, with extant research primarily focusing on profiling participants, and understanding participants’ experiences. The experiences and perspectives of those who travel to participatory sport events to support competing athletes, the ‘non-participating entourage’ (NPE), have largely been overlooked. This stakeholder group is arguably under-recognised by those staging participatory sport events. The purpose of this study was to explore NPE experiences at participatory sport events, adopting a phenomenological approach and employing stakeholder theory as an interpretive lens. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 NPE of amateur athletes in Australia. Findings highlighted that NPE provide emotional and logistical support to their athlete at events. However, while providing support, NPE also experienced positive and negative emotions arising from contextual factors including their relationship to the athlete, group composition, athlete performance, and event design and conditions. This research highlights a vexed, though crucial stakeholder relationship between NPE and event management organisations, requiring unique stakeholder management strategies.