Beyond physical ability—predicting women’s football performance from psychological factors
A summary of the article:
The article "Beyond Physical Ability—Predicting Women’s Football Performance from Psychological Factors" investigates how psychological traits affect the performance of female football players in Norway's top two leagues. Using questionnaires and performance data, the study examines factors such as grit, mental toughness, extraversion, conscientiousness, and self-regulated learning to determine their predictive value for match performance. The results show that two psychological factors—perceived mastery climate and extraversion—were significant predictors of performance. Surprisingly, traits such as mental toughness, grit, and self-regulated learning did not predict performance, challenging previous assumptions about their importance in elite football.
The findings suggest that the team environment, particularly the motivational climate fostered by coaches, plays a more crucial role in performance than individual psychological traits. The study highlights the need for further exploration into how team dynamics influence player success, and it underscores the limited role that certain psychological factors may have on performance in competitive women's football.
Key Takeaways:
Mastery climate and extraversion predict performance: A supportive team environment and outgoing personality traits were key predictors of player success.
Mental toughness and grit are less impactful: These traits, typically considered important in sports, did not predict match performance in this study.
Team environment matters more than individual traits: Coaches’ ability to foster a positive, mastery-oriented climate was a stronger influence on performance than personal psychological traits
Authors: Susann Dahl Pettersen, Monica Martinussen, Bjørn Helge Handegård, Lene-Mari Potulski Rasmussen, Roman Koposov, & Frode Adolfsen
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