Functional Capacities and Mental Skills Necessary for Expertise in Soccer

Research in Exercise and Sports Medicine

دوره 4، شماره 1، بهمن 2013، صفحه 44-50   

نوع مقاله: Original Article

چکیده

Purpose: Expertise in sport relies on interactions between individual, task and environment constraints. 
Individual performer constraints include mental and physical characteristics. The present study aimed to 
measure the functional capacities and mental skills in adolescent, elite (N=26) and sub-elite (N=35) soccer 
players to determine the important factors in the talent selection process. 
Material and Methods: Participants were classified in four groups according to their age: U16, U15, U14 
and U13. The OMSAT-3 was used to evaluate the mental skills. Furthermore, functional capacities were 
measured using four tests including aerobic resistance (shuttle run), explosive power (vertical jump), running 
speed (running with the ball) and strength (shooting). 
Results: The results of the present study showed a significant difference between elite and sub-elite soccer 
players in three functional and seven mental characteristics. There were significant differences between elite 
and sub-elite soccer players regarding functional capacities between U15 and U16 players. Also, mental skills 
differentiated between elite and sub-elite players in U13, U14 and U16 age groups.
Discussion and Conclusion: It seems that soccer players lacking functional capacities and mental skills may 
not continue the participation and/or may not be selected for higher level participations. These results suggest 
that performance and psychometric characteristics of young soccer players differ at different ages. According 
to the results it seems that mental skill measurements at ages under 13 and 14 can help the selection process, 
but functional capacities should be emphasized at U15 and U16 age groups

کلیدواژه‌ها

Soccer؛ Elite and sub-elite players؛ Talent؛ Functional capacities؛ Mental skills