Football Psychology

Presenting an empirically underpinned synthesis of research and theory, while offering guidance for applied practitioners, this is the first book to comprehensively map the psychology of learning, playing, and coaching the world's favourite sport. The book provides a complete analysis of key topics that capture the broad range of football psychology such as personality, motivation, cognition, and emotion; coaching and team essentials; psychological skills for performance enhancement; and developing players in youth football. Including contributions from a range of international researchers, each chapter provides a review of the relevant literature, key theories, real-world examples, and reflections on how knowledge can be applied in practice. Split into four sections, the book covers a diverse range of topics relevant not only to coaching and performance but also to personality development and health promotion. Essential reading for any student, researcher, or professional in the area, the book is the most cutting-edge overview of how psychology can explain and improve the way football is both played and understood.

Erkut Konter has various degrees specializing in Sport Psychology and Football. He has more than 30 years' experience as a sport psychology consultant and football coach at national and international levels. He has a number of publications on football psychology and is currently at the Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey. Jürgen Beckmann is Professor and Chair of Sport Psychology at Technical University of Munich, Germany and Honorary Professor of the University of Queensland, Australia. He is a former president of the German Association of Sport Psychology. He has been consultant to numerous elite athletes and teams since 1987 including professional football teams of the German Bundesliga. Todd M. Loughead, PhD, is Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology in the Department of Kinesiology and Co-Director of the Sport Psychology and Physical Activity Research Collaborative at the University of Windsor, Canada. His current research interests are related primarily to group dynamics including athlete leadership, coaching, cohesion, and team-building. Outside of work, he enjoys coaching both football and ice hockey.

Introduction: football psychology on route to becoming an integral part of football Part I: Personality, motivation, cognition, and emotion 1) Mood states as motivational and emotional determinants of football performance 2) Mental toughness development in football 3) Courage in football 4) The unifying role of player responsibility in football 5) The consistent psycho-social development of young footballers: implementing the 5C's as a vehicle for interdisciplinary cohesion 6) Decision making and non-verbal intelligence in football Part II: Coaching essentials in football 7) Athlete leadership in football 8) Effective coaching in football 9) Collective collapse in football 10) Leadership power in football 11) Coach justice and competence in football 12) Burnout in football coaching 13) Recovery in football Part III: Psychological skills for performance development 14) Psychological skills for football players 15) The use of acceptance and commitment therapy for stress management interventions in football 16) Imagery in football 17) Self-confidence and collective efficacy in football 18) Concentration and self-talk in football 19) Applied behavioral analysis in top level football: theory and application Part IV: Developing the young player in football 20) Parental coaching in football 21) Talent development in youth football 22) How youth football players learn to succeed 23) Helping players develop life skills in football 24) The critical transition from junior to elite football: resources and barriers 25) Preventing depression and burnout in youth football