Cam Davidson,Cailie S McGuire,Mitchell C Profeit,Sebastian Harenberg,Jeffrey G Caron,Luc J Martin
{"title":"Implications of Injury on Athlete Experiences With Positional Competition in Sport.","authors":"Cam Davidson,Cailie S McGuire,Mitchell C Profeit,Sebastian Harenberg,Jeffrey G Caron,Luc J Martin","doi":"10.1123/jsep.2025-0032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2025-0032","url":null,"abstract":"Despite the prevalence of injury and positional competition (PC) in sport, the ways in which injury influences athletes' experiences with PC has yet to be investigated. The purpose of this study was to explore (a) how injury influences athletes' PC experiences and (b) how injury and PC together influence individual- and team-level outcomes. A two-phase qualitative approach was adopted situated within the Canadian interuniversity football context. In Phase 1, 12 athletes participated in semistructured interviews. The findings from these interviews were then discussed in focus group interviews with eight additional athletes (Phase 2). Data were analyzed through a critical realist lens. Three major themes were identified: (a) competing while injured-a perceived unavoidable reality of PC, (b) player status is a key feature of athletes' injury and PC experiences, and (c) a double-edged sword-injury creates and takes away playing time opportunities. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.","PeriodicalId":501398,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"130 1","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145296083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rethinking Sport Type: Adolescent Sport Contexts and their Associations With Sport Enjoyment.","authors":"Jennifer P Agans,Michael Blair Evans","doi":"10.1123/jsep.2024-0337","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2024-0337","url":null,"abstract":"Researchers, and the public alike, assume that sport types (e.g., team, contact, aesthetic) inherently produce certain environments. To test these assumptions, we examined how sport types relate to adolescent participants' perceptions of sport contexts. Using survey data from 841 U.S. youth in 54 sports, we adopted a novel approach to include multiple sport types when (a) describing how sport types correlate to the perceived sport context and (b) examining how variance in sport enjoyment is predicted by sport type alongside other relational and structural aspects. Results show that sport types consistently predicted structural characteristics (e.g., team sports involved increased interdependence perceptions); yet, we observed fewer differences for relational characteristics (e.g., perceptions of friends). Relational characteristics also accounted for considerable variance in sport enjoyment, not explained by sport type alone. This study shows that clearer sport type definitions and precise assessments are needed to capture contextual factors that predict sport enjoyment.","PeriodicalId":501398,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"92 1","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145296084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tim Hardie,Alex Oliver,Paul J McCarthy,Bryan McCann
{"title":"Identifying Cognitive Processes in Male Rugby Union Place-Kickers Using a \"Think Aloud\" Protocol.","authors":"Tim Hardie,Alex Oliver,Paul J McCarthy,Bryan McCann","doi":"10.1123/jsep.2024-0358","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2024-0358","url":null,"abstract":"This study explored cognitive processes in elite rugby union place-kickers using a Think Aloud protocol. Five male kickers (Mage = 25.8 years) from Scotland's top domestic league wore microphones to verbalize thoughts during place-kicks from varied distances and angles. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through abductive content analysis using Elliott et al.'s framework. Findings revealed planning as the dominant cognitive theme, with participants consistently using preperformance routines incorporating visualization techniques. External attributions of failure emerged as a novel coping strategy among four of five kickers. The results demonstrate how elite performers use metacognitive strategies, informed by dynamic self-regulation, and adaptive systems principles to regulate attention and adapt to task demands. These findings provide new insights into the cognitive architecture of specialized sports skills and highlight Think Aloud's value for capturing real-time thought processes. For applied practice, the study offers concrete recommendations for developing individualized routines that optimize attentional control and performance consistency in pressure situations.","PeriodicalId":501398,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"42 1","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145215990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jerry Prosper Medernach,Claudia Augste,Julian Henz,Stefan Künzell,Daniel Memmert,Xavier Sanchez
{"title":"Creativity in Olympic Bouldering: Exploring the Role of Climbing Level and Route Previewing.","authors":"Jerry Prosper Medernach,Claudia Augste,Julian Henz,Stefan Künzell,Daniel Memmert,Xavier Sanchez","doi":"10.1123/jsep.2025-0097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2025-0097","url":null,"abstract":"In sports, creativity refers to the ability to make decisions that are original and unexpected, yet effective. Given the limited research on climbers' creativity and its underlying mechanisms, this study explored the role of climbing level and route previewing on climbers' creativity and their ability to find creative climbing solutions. Twenty-eight climbers (14 advanced and 14 elite) were tasked with climbing an Olympic boulder that offered two climbing options: an easily identifiable option beyond their climbing levels, and a creative option that, though less identifiable, was feasible for both groups. Results revealed that elite climbers were more successful in completing the boulder, attained higher creativity scores, and more often used the creative option. Despite shorter preview durations, they had fewer holds without fixations and more fixations at key holds of the creative option. Overall, findings indicate that creativity in climbing is associated with skill level and behavior during route previewing.","PeriodicalId":501398,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"122 1","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144960213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Verbal Communication, Coordinated Effort, and Performance in Esports Teams: An Expert-Nonexpert Paradigm Study.","authors":"Omer Eldadi,Sarah Jeanne Fitoussi,Gershon Tenenbaum","doi":"10.1123/jsep.2024-0343","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2024-0343","url":null,"abstract":"Verbal communication among expert and nonexpert esport team players during active gameplay of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) was observed and analyzed. By analyzing 4,040 in-game statements comprising 22,490 words (15,727 made by experts and 6,763 by nonexperts) across eight matches, we examined communication characteristics, such as content, frequency, pace, and distribution. Expert teams communicated more frequently and effectively than nonexpert teams, using predominantly factual and action-related statements while maintaining a significantly faster communication pace. Moreover, expert teams demonstrated a more balanced distribution of speakers, indicating shared responsibility among team players. A sequential analysis revealed that expert teams' players strategically transitioned between uncertainty-to-acknowledgement statements, and frequently transitioned between factual-to-factual and action-to-action statements. In contrast, nonexpert teams' players transitioned more between nontask-related statements and statements expressing emotions. These findings underscore the importance of efficient, task-relevant communication during active gameplay in fostering team shared mental models, rapid decision making, and effective team performance.","PeriodicalId":501398,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"18 1","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144959902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Danae M Frentz,Tara-Leigh F McHugh,Amber D Mosewich
{"title":"Journeying Through Sport With Self-Compassion: Athlete Narratives of Navigating Pressure and Struggle.","authors":"Danae M Frentz,Tara-Leigh F McHugh,Amber D Mosewich","doi":"10.1123/jsep.2024-0301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2024-0301","url":null,"abstract":"Overemphasis on performance in high-level sport can lead to declines in athletes' physical health, psychological well-being, and quality of life. Development of adaptive coping approaches, such as self-compassion, may help mitigate such threats to well-being. Informed by a narrative approach, this study explored how athletes high in self-compassion story their journey through sport, including their experiences of navigating pressure and struggle. Three women athletes high in self-compassion took part in two loosely structured one-on-one interviews. Narrative thematic and structural analyses were undertaken. Participants' narratives of Redefining, Rediscovery, Balance, Growth, and Transformation deviate from the performance narrative typically dominant within sport, and such alternative narratives may help future athletes story their lives in ways that promote well-being. Additional findings regarding athlete-generated language for self-compassion and its application further support efforts to tailor self-compassion within sport contexts.","PeriodicalId":501398,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"94 1","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144930317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hajer Mguidich,Houssem Ben Chikha,Bachir Zoudji,Aïmen Khacharem
{"title":"Combining Mental Imagery and Tracing Gestures to Enhance Basketball Tactical Learning.","authors":"Hajer Mguidich,Houssem Ben Chikha,Bachir Zoudji,Aïmen Khacharem","doi":"10.1123/jsep.2024-0218","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2024-0218","url":null,"abstract":"Tracing gestures are hand movements designed to mimic or simulate specific actions. This study examined the effects of incorporating these gestures with mental imagery (dynamic imagery) versus using mental imagery alone (static imagery) on learning tactical movements in basketball. In addition, it investigated how the effectiveness of these techniques varies with players' levels of expertise (expert vs. novice) and the timing of testing (immediate vs. delayed). The findings indicated that novices practicing dynamic mental imagery consistently outperformed those using only static imagery in both immediate and delayed tests. In contrast, although experts showed comparable benefits from both techniques in the immediate test, dynamic imagery proved significantly more beneficial in the delayed test. These results emphasize the important role that the combination of mental imagery and tracing gestures plays in enhancing learning performance, with the effects varying based on testing time and expertise level.","PeriodicalId":501398,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"672 1","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144664202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Charlotte Clare,James Hardy,Ross Roberts,David Tod,Alex Benson
{"title":"Do Leaders Actually Influence Sports Performance? An Integrated Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.","authors":"Charlotte Clare,James Hardy,Ross Roberts,David Tod,Alex Benson","doi":"10.1123/jsep.2024-0312","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2024-0312","url":null,"abstract":"The precise nature of the leadership-sport performance relationship remains unclear. Furthermore, understanding of how leadership effects might differ across coach and athlete leaders or across team and individual performance is currently limited. To address these issues, we conducted an integrated systematic and meta-analytical review (50 studies, 17,158 athletes) to quantify differences between coach and athlete leaders and examine potential moderator variables. Results revealed a significant yet small positive relationship between leadership and performance (r = .21; Hedges' g = 0.44). Significantly stronger relationships emerged for team captains (r = .34) with team performance than coaches (r = .18) and informal athlete leaders (r = .15). Moreover, significantly larger effect sizes were yielded for authentic (r = .44) and transformational (r = .33) compared with social identity leadership (r = .19). In summary, both coaches and athletes possess the potential to be effective leaders who influence both team and individual performance.","PeriodicalId":501398,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"49 1","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144603905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ryan Beatson,Kent C Kowalski,Scotty Butcher,Leah J Ferguson
{"title":"Exploring Mindfulness and Self-Compassion as Mental Health Resources for High-Performance Coaches in Canada.","authors":"Ryan Beatson,Kent C Kowalski,Scotty Butcher,Leah J Ferguson","doi":"10.1123/jsep.2024-0228","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2024-0228","url":null,"abstract":"High-performance coaches, much like the athletes they work with, are performers who face significant stressors that challenge their mental health. This study explores mindfulness and self-compassion as potential resources to support coaches in managing these demands. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, qualitative discussions with six high-performance coaches revealed contextual demands and varied perceptions of these resources. Quantitative analysis of survey responses from 78 high-performance coaches demonstrated that self-compassion uniquely predicted mental ill-health (i.e., burnout) beyond mindfulness (Δ R2 = .10, p < .001), while mindfulness uniquely predicted mental well-being (i.e., thriving) beyond self-compassion (Δ R2 = .09, p = .003). These findings suggest that mindfulness and self-compassion may play complementary roles in supporting both positive and negative aspects of mental health. This research highlights the potential value of incorporating these resources into mental health programs for high-performance coaches and encourages further exploration of their application in elite sport settings.","PeriodicalId":501398,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"10 1","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144586471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephanie Buenemann,Charlotte Behlau,Katherine A Tamminen,Maike Tietjens,Bernd Strauss
{"title":"Examining Correlates of Threat States Through the Lens of Team Performance Crises and the Role of Losing Streaks.","authors":"Stephanie Buenemann,Charlotte Behlau,Katherine A Tamminen,Maike Tietjens,Bernd Strauss","doi":"10.1123/jsep.2024-0328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2024-0328","url":null,"abstract":"This multistudy report tests threat states as central to team performance crises. In a preregistered online study (Study 1), N = 396 athletes answered a questionnaire after reading a vignette to manipulate expectations, attribution, and consequences. In a preregistered field study (Study 2), those factors were tested on N = 161 athletes on competition days. In both studies, expectations, attribution, and consequences were unrelated to threat, but participants with uncontrollable vignettes rated their upcoming match to be less controllable, t(375) = 1.98, p < .05. Study 1 replicated the findings of appraisal literature, linking challenge and threat to emotions, collective efficacy, and task-related cohesion. Study 2 shows the losing streaks of the three are associated with higher threat states, (β = 0.31, p < .05); but two-game losing streaks are not, β = 0.10, p = .277. The studies are discussed in the light of existing literature on crises and threat states.","PeriodicalId":501398,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology","volume":"51 1","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144586438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}