Introduction: Several studies have already dealt with the physiologic demands of soccer; however, little attention has been paid to the influence of psychological aspects, particularly in female participants. The purposes of this study were: 1) to describe the profile of psychological skills in different Spanish players of female soccer; 2) to examine the influence of age and the level of practice on these skills. Methods: A sample of 101 female soccer players completed a validated Spanish version of the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI-28) (Graupera et al., 2011) in the National League from 2013 to 2014. The stratification of the sample included 20 players belonging to the first national division, 33 competing in the second national division, and 48 from inferior categories. The ACSI-28 questionnaire (Smith et al., 1995) examines perceptions in the practice and competition of the athletes: coping with adversity, peaking under pressure, goal setting/ mental preparation, concentration, freedom from worry, confidence and coachability. The test was administrated in three stages: ar the begining, at middle stage, and at the end of the tournament. Psychological profile of were compared in relation to the division (Wilcoxon test). Correlations between factors from ACSI-28 (Spearman Rho) at the begining and at the end of the season were also analyzed. Results: The analysis of the questionnaires showed differences between the national and the other categories of players. At the end of the season the players of lower categories had better scores than the first and second national divisions in two factors: coping with adversity (p<0.05) and coachability (p<0.01). Likewise, these players improve their ability in coping with adversity (p<0.05). The players of first division significantly decreased their coachability (p<0.05). The results of the factors analyzed were independent of the level of education of the players. There were significant differences between playing positions and results of capacity concentration (lower in goalkeepers, p<0.05) and general coping resources (lower in forwards, p<0.05). Discussion: The first division players were better prepared to deal with psychological distress involving soccer competition and reported better emotional self-control. The use of the ACSI-28 allows a friendly approach to the specific psychological skills required in soccer. A better understanding of the psychological factors underlying female soccer at different categories might allow for the development of interventions to improve psychological skills of participants.
© Copyright 2016 21st Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Vienna, 6. -9. July 2016. Veröffentlicht von University of Vienna. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.