Self-Efficacy And Psychological Skills During The Amputee Soccer World Cup

The present study explored relationships between psychological skills, self-efficacy, and performance among soccer players participating in the Amputee World Cup. Players completed the Test of Performance Strategies (Thomas, Hardy, & Nelson, 1999). One hour before competition, participants completed a two-item self-efficacy measure designed to assess confidence in attaining performance goals for each competition. Participants completed a two-item self-referenced performance measure within an hour of competition. Results indicated self-efficacy showed reciprocal relationships with performance. Several psychological skills related to self-efficacy and performance. Relaxation skills used in training and competition were associated with high self-efficacy and successful performance. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of applied sport psychology interventions designed to enhance self-efficacy through increasing the usage of psychological skills in training and competition