Sport psychology consulting among Swedish premier soccer coaches

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine knowledge and experience about sport psychology consulting among coaches for Swedish male and female premier soccer teams, and to identify barriers and possibilities that a sport psychology consultant (SPC) encounters in joining a team. All 28 coaches within Swedish male and female premier soccer leagues answered the “Psychology for Football Questionnaire”. In addition, coaches from two male and two female teams were interviewed. The main findings showed that about half the teams had contacted an SPC. Skills favored by coaches were goal setting and team building, and the biggest barriers to using SPCs were lack of knowledge/skepticism about the field, unclear descriptions of services, and problems integrating with the team. Possibilities for entry were feasible time available, and accessing positive role models. Conclusions pertain to the practical implications for applied research and the provision of sport psychology services within premier soccer.

Keywords:

• sport psychologist
• barriers
• consulting
• coaches
• possibilities
• soccer

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Swedish Football Association for their cooperation in obtaining sampling data, and the Centre for Research of Well-being, Health and Sport, Halmstad University, Sweden, and Halmstad community for supporting the study.