PURPOSE This study aimed to develop and examine the applicability and effectiveness a psychological conditioning program based on the principle of periodization as an alternative to conventional problem-focused and short-term psychological skills training. It intends to systematize and support the long-term regulation of the psychological preparation of golf and soccer players. METHODS The study followed the six-step procedure of the Intervention Mapping Protocol. It recruited 16 professional athletes (7 golfers and 9 soccer players) during the development phase and an additional 20 athletes (9 golfers and 11 soccer players) for the subsequent implementation and evaluation phases. Program effectiveness was assessed as follows. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain indepth insights into the program’s impact (qualitative evaluation), and, the Test of Performance Strategies-2 and a condition measurement tool were administered (quantitative evaluation). RESULTS The qualitative findings indicated that the program supported athletes in better regulating anxiety, reducing negative thoughts, and recovering more quickly from mistakes. The quantitative results demonstrated significant improvements in athletes’ psychological skills and overall condition levels. CONCLUSIONS This results indicate that undergoing a periodized psychological conditioning program can effectively enhance athletes’ psychological skills and support the maintenance of psychological homeostasis. For a broad implementation, a structured support system should be established to replace one-time interventions, thus enabling continuous feedback and practical application to help athletes sustain optimal psychological states during competition.
PURPOSE Players’ nonverbal behavior during a game may be expressed through selfregulatory and intentional processes, where nonverbal cues are strategically used to achieve specific outcomes. This study aimed to observe and explore the strategic and intentional nonverbal behaviors utilized by table tennis players. METHODS The study utilized a grounded theory methodology and involved purposeful sampling of ten adult table tennis players. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted. The collected data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding techniques. RESULTS The findings revealed that players’ intentional nonverbal behaviors are influenced by their confidence levels, physical condition, and perceptions of others’ nonverbal cues. Throughout this process, players underwent various emotional experiences, worked to maintain a positive mental state, and experienced changes in both their behaviors and psychological states, which impacted the flow of the game. CONCLUSIONS This study’s results provide valuable insights into the role of intentional nonverbal behaviors utilized by athletes during competitions. This suggests that understanding and incorporating intentional nonverbal behavior should be a key consideration in sports psychology counseling and psychological skills training.
PURPOSE This study systematically observed and analyzed nonverbal behaviors performed during table tennis matches to develop a coding system facilitating an indepth understanding of their strategic and psychological functions. The key purpose of the study is to lay a foundation for practical applications and future research. METHODS A descriptive coding approach was used to develop a framework for the analysis of athletes’ nonverbal behaviors. The process of development followed a structured 10-step procedure that involved video analysis, expert review, and intercoder reliability assessment. Three trained coders participated in the development and application phases and were supported by two additional observers who had no pre-existing knowledge of the research purpose to enhance objectivity. Inter-coder reliability was evaluated using percent agreement and intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS In this process, 17 distinct nonverbal behavioral categories were identified and organized into four overarching categories: (1) Encouraging behaviors, intended to boost morale and concentration; (2) Equipment check behaviors, interpreted as attributive actions adopted to externalize responsibility for errors; (3) Pace control behaviors, which are intended to regulate match tempo and disrupt the opponent’s rhythm; and (4) Negative emotiondriven behaviors, which reflect internal emotional struggles. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate the strategic and psychological significance of players’ nonverbal behaviors in competitive sports. The coding system developed in this study provides an objective framework for understanding athletes’ behaviors, providing insights that can contribute to emotion regulation during matches and the development of strategies for psychological warfare with opponents.
