A Study on the Effects of Different Types of Self-Talk on Strikers in Soccer
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 36
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Match-Based Technical and Tactical Performance
研究概览
简要总结
This study investigates the effects of different types of self-talk on performance and stress regulation in soccer forwards. Self-talk is a psychological technique in which athletes use specific verbal cues to guide their thoughts and actions during training and competition. Two commonly used forms are motivational self-talk, which focuses on confidence and effort, and instructional self-talk, which focuses on technical and tactical cues.
Thirty-six male soccer forwards of different competitive levels participated in this study. Players were randomly assigned to a motivational self-talk group, an instructional self-talk group, or a control group. The intervention lasted six weeks. Before and after the intervention, participants completed assessments of soccer-specific technical skills, physical performance, and match tactical behavior. Psychological measures of self-efficacy and biological indicators of stress (salivary cortisol) were also collected.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether different self-talk strategies produce different effects depending on players' competitive level and task demands. The findings are expected to provide practical guidance for the use of psychological training strategies in soccer and other team sports.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Other
- 盲法
- Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
盲法说明
This study employed a triple-blind design. Participants were not informed of the specific self-talk strategy being evaluated and were told only that different psychological preparation approaches were being compared. Investigators responsible for training supervision and data collection were not involved in group allocation and were blinded to intervention assignment. Outcome assessors and data analysts were blinded to group identity throughout testing and analysis. Group allocation was coded using anonymized labels until completion of all statistical analyses.
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 25 Years（Adult）
- 性别
- Male
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Male university football players aged 18-25 years
- •Full-time university students regularly engaged in organized football training and competition
- •At least two years of systematic football training experience
- •In good general health at the time of enrollment
- •No musculoskeletal injuries or medical conditions affecting football performance within the previous 6 months
- •Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing
- •Able to understand study procedures and complete soccer-specific performance and decision-making tasks
- •Provided written informed consent prior to participation
排除标准
- •History of neurological, psychiatric, or cognitive disorders that could influence decision-making or reaction time
- •Current participation in structured psychological skills training programs (e.g., self-talk training, imagery, mindfulness training) outside routine football practice during the study period
- •Use of medications or substances known to affect cognitive function
- •Presence of any medical condition or injury contraindicating participation in football training or testing
- •Failure to comply with the intervention protocol or outcome assessments
研究组 & 干预措施
Motivational Self-Talk
Participants in this group received a motivational self-talk intervention designed to enhance confidence, effort, and persistence during soccer training and competition.
干预措施: Motivational Self-Talk Training (Behavioral)
Instructional Self-Talk
Participants in this group received an instructional self-talk intervention focusing on technical execution and tactical decision-making during soccer activities.
干预措施: Instructional Self-Talk Training (Behavioral)
Control
Participants in the control group continued their regular soccer training without receiving any structured self-talk intervention.
干预措施: No Self-Talk (Usual Training Control) (Behavioral)
结局指标
主要结局
Match-Based Technical and Tactical Performance
时间窗: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Match-based technical and tactical performance was assessed during regular soccer match play using standardized match analysis procedures. This outcome represents players' overall technical and tactical performance exhibited in a real match context over the intervention period.
次要结局
- Shooting Accuracy(Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention)
- Sport Self-Efficacy(Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention)
- Dribbling Run Performance(Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention)
- Loughborough Soccer Passing Test Performance(Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention)
- Salivary Cortisol Concentration(Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention)
研究者
Yue Dou
Graduate Student
Beijing Sport University