From cognition to competition: enhancing indonesian football development through sports psychology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20252082Keywords:
Intelligence, decision making, ability, goal setting, focus, Sports PsychologyAbstract
Cognitive aspects play a crucial role in football development, integration of cognitive training is an important strategy for coaches in developing players who can reach a professional level and stay at that level for a long time, so that young players can optimize their physical and mental potential in their development path. This study aims to analyze the role of cognitive training in football player development based on coach experience using the Evolved Grounded Theory (EGT) approach. This study focuses on developing a data-based theory obtained through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis that allows for in-depth exploration of coaches' experiences in implementing cognitive training. A total of 10 coaches from Indonesia participated in this study with the criteria of a minimum of five years of experience and ownership of a coaching license. Ownership of a license is considered one of the important things in improving the quality of coaching and the welfare of football players in the development path. The data collected were then analyzed using a code through the Nvivo12 application. The results of this study found that intelligence, decision-making ability, willingness, goal setting, focus are cognitive aspects that must be possessed by football players in the development path in order to reach a professional level. The results of this study are expected to provide insight and recommendations for coaches in integrating cognitive training as a strategy for developing soccer players. Thus, this study contributes to building more effective coaching to produce young players who are ready to face the challenges of modern soccer.
References
1. Nurcahyo PJ, Kusnandar K, Budi DR, Listiandi AD, Kurniawati H, Widyaningsih R. Does Physical Fitness Correlate with IQ? A Study among Football Student Athletes. J Pendidik Jasm dan Olahraga [Internet]. 2021 Oct 1;6(2). Available from: https://ejournal.upi.edu/index.php/penjas/article/view/38290
2. Miller AL, Palmer KK, Wang L, Wang C, Riley HO, McClelland MM, et al. Mastery-oriented motor competence intervention improves behavioral but not cognitive self-regulation in head start preschoolers: Randomized controlled trial results. Scand J Med Sci Sports [Internet]. 2023 May 6;33(5):725–36. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sms.14294
3. Tessele DR, Coradini L, Moreira HG, Malavolta VC, Silva LS da, Garcia MV. Tinnitus disorder: implication in different cognitive abilities of young adults. Audiol - Commun Res [Internet]. 2024;29. Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2317-64312024000100321&tlng=en
4. Staiano W, Merlini M, Romagnoli M, Kirk U, Ring C, Marcora S. Brain Endurance Training Improves Physical, Cognitive, and Multitasking Performance in Professional Football Players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform [Internet]. 2022 Dec 1;17(12):1732–40. Available from: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/17/12/article-p1732.xml
5. Pakpahan FH, Saragih M. Theory Of Cognitive Development By Jean Piaget. J Appl Linguist [Internet]. 2022 Jul 28;2(2):55–60. Available from: https://journal.eltaorganization.org/index.php/joal/article/view/79
6. Arshad MA, Shabbir MS, Mahmood A, Khan S, Ali Sulaiman MAB. An exploration of IQ, EQ, spiritual quotient (SQ) elements in the human reengineering program (HRP) practices: A study on the drug rehabilitation Centre in Malaysia. In: Journal of Human Sport and Exercise - 2020 - Winter Conferences of Sports Science [Internet]. Universidad de Alicante; 2020. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10045/107032
7. Gemaini A, et al. The influence of IQ, emotional and spiritual perceptions on sports participation in an effort to improve physical health. Sport TK. 2024;13:1-12. doi:10.6018/sportk.579071.
8. Nakisa N, Rahbardar MG. Comparison of IQ, EI, Sports Performance, and Psychological Characteristics of Young Male Soccer Players in Different Playing Positions. Ann Appl Sport Sci. 2021;9(1):1-8. doi:10.29252/aassjournal.910.
9. Xia N. The impact of bilingual education on young children’s cognitive development. Trans Soc Sci Educ Humanit Res. 2024;11:919-28. doi:10.62051/p2j7f435.
10. Lilić L, Aleksić D, Radivojević D. The cognitive abilities of football players in relation to competition ranking. Sport Sci Pract. 2013;3(1):5-15.
11. Bryant AM, et al. Investigating the association between subjective and objective performance-based cognitive function among former collegiate football players. Clin Neuropsychol. 2024;37(3):595-616. doi:10.1080/13854046.2022.2083021.
12. Westhoff M, et al. Psychological flexibility and cognitive-affective processes in young adults’ daily lives. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):1-13. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-58598-3.
13. Ropret R, Jevtić B. Long-term athlete development: From theoretical and practical model to cognitive problem. Fiz Kult. 2019;73(2):190-205. doi:10.5937/fizkul1902190r.
14. Walton CC, Keegan RJ, Martin M, Hallock H. The potential role for cognitive training in sport: More research needed. Front Psychol. 2018;9:1121. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01121.
15. Gomes AR, Simães C, Morais C, Cunha R. Adaptation to stress in football athletes: The importance of cognitive appraisal. Front Psychol. 2022;13:939840. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.939840.
16. Zhang H, Peng D, Shi X. Evaluation of cognitive load differences between elderly and young pedestrians at the signalised intersection. Promet Traffic Transp. 2024;36(4):704-16. doi:10.7307/ptt.v36i4.519.
17. Pompeo A, et al. Impact of temperature on physical and cognitive performance in elite female football players during intermittent exercise. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2024;34(5):1-12. doi:10.1111/sms.14646.
18. Strauss A, Corbin J. Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. 2nd ed. London: Sage; 1998.
19. Lebar O. Penyelidikan kualitatif: Pengenalan kepada teori dan metode. 2nd ed. Tanjung Malim: Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris; 2021.
20. Ghazali D, Sufean H. Metodologi penyelidikan dalam pendidikan. Kuala Lumpur: Penerbit Universiti Malaya; 2016.
21. Patton MQ. Qualitative research and evaluation methods. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage; 2002.
22. Bolter ND, Petranek LJ, Dorsch TE. Coach, parent, and administrator perspectives on required coaching education in organized youth sport. Int J Sports Sci Coach. 2018;13(3):362-72.
23. Creswell JW. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage; 2014.
24. Ayla AS, Atici E, Ayla ÖÖ. Does football improve cognitive performance? J Rom Sport Med Soc. 2020;16(2):3205-10.
25. King R. Maximizing multi-disciplinary team impact in high-performance sport: Exploring problem solving, decision-making, expertise, and team performance. Blended Intelligence Multi-disciplinary. 2023:1-11. Available from: [www.blended-intelligence.com](http://www.blended-intelligence.com).
26. Bergmann F, Gray R, Wachsmuth S, Höner O. Perceptual-motor and perceptual-cognitive skill acquisition in soccer: A systematic review on the influence of practice design and coaching behavior. Front Psychol. 2021;12:772201. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.772201.
27. Trecroci A, et al. Relationship between cognitive functions and sport-specific physical performance in youth volleyball players. Brain Sci. 2021;11(2):1-11. doi:10.3390/brainsci11020227.
28. Helsen WF, Spitz J, Ziv G. The acquisition of perceptual-cognitive expertise in officiating in association football – state of the art. Asian J Sport Exerc Psychol. 2023;3(1):39-46. doi:10.1016/j.ajsep.2022.09.007.
29. Patel L, Tarafder J, Ronca F. Cognitive effects of heading in professional football: a systematic review. Int J Sports Med. 2024;1-44. doi:10.1055/a-2409-0323.
30. Shearer C, Goss HR, Boddy LM, Knowles ZR, Durden-Myers EJ, Foweather L. Assessments related to the physical, affective and cognitive domains of physical literacy amongst children aged 7–11.9 years: A systematic review. Sports Med. 2021;7(1):1-40. doi:10.1186/s40798-021-00324-8.
31. Shi Y, Qu S. The effect of cognitive ability on academic achievement: The mediating role of self-discipline and the moderating role of planning. Front Psychol. 2022;13:1014655. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1014655.
32. Larkin P, O’Brien B, Mesagno C, Berry J, Harvey J, Spittle M. Assessment of decision-making performance and in-game physical exertion of Australian football umpires. J Sports Sci. 2014;32(15):1446-53. doi:10.1080/02640414.2014.896998.
33. Silva AF, Conte D, Clemente FM. Decision-making in youth team-sports players: A systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):3803. doi:10.3390/ijerph17113803.
34. Roca A, Ford PR. Decision-making practice during coaching sessions in elite youth football across European countries. Sci Med Footb. 2020;4(4):263-8. doi:10.1080/24733938.2020.1755051.
35. Popovych I, et al. Pre-competition expectation profiles among junior athletes in the context of altered sporting conditions. J Phys Educ Sport. 2023;23(10):2551-62. doi:10.7752/jpes.2023.10293.
36. Popovych I, et al. Research on the types of pre-game expectations in the athletes of sports games. J Phys Educ Sport. 2020;20(1):43-52. doi:10.7752/jpes.2020.01006.
37. Campos GG, Valdivia-Moral P, Zagalaz JC, Ortega FZ. Visualisation and goal-setting in footballers. J Hum Sport Exerc. 2016;11(2):279-91. doi:10.14198/jhse.2016.112.01.
38. Purnomo E, et al. The coach’s role in understanding the athletes’ condition: Maximizing communication functions. Retos. 2024;2041:543-51. doi:10.47197/retos.v55.105991.
39. Larsen CH, Engell C. The art of goal setting: A tale of doing sport psychology in professional football. Sport Sci Rev. 2013;22(1-2):49-76. doi:10.2478/ssr-2013-0004.
40. Maitland A, Gervis M. Goal-setting in youth football: Are coaches missing an opportunity? Phys Educ Sport Pedagog. 2010;15(4):323-43. doi:10.1080/17408980903413461.
41. Locke EA, Latham GP. Breaking the rules: A historical overview of goal-setting theory. Adv Motiv Sci. 2015;2:1-24. doi:10.1016/bs.adms.2015.05.001.
42. Sawyer TP, Hollis-Sawyer L, Wade J. Grit and children’s taekwondo performance. Int J Martial Arts. 2018;4:1-12. doi:10.51222/injoma.2018.04.4.1.
43. Bae J, Lim T, O’Sullivan DM. The role of sport coaches on student-athletes’ life skills development and transfer: Using multilevel model analysis. Int J Sports Sci Coach. 2024;19(3):944-55. doi:10.1177/17479541231217368.
44. Bissett JE, Kroshus E, Hebard S. Determining the role of sport coaches in promoting athlete mental health: A narrative review and Delphi approach. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2020;6(1):e000676. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000676.
45. Jackson B, Knapp P, Beauchamp MR. The coach-athlete relationship: A tripartite efficacy perspective. Sport Psychol. 2009;23(2):203-32. doi:10.1123/tsp.23.2.203.
46. Jowett S, Carpenter P. The concept of rules in the coach-athlete relationship. Sports Coach Rev. 2015;4(1):1-23. doi:10.1080/21640629.2015.1106145.
47. Mageau GA, Vallerand RJ. The coach-athlete relationship: A motivational model. J Sports Sci. 2003;21(11):883-904. doi:10.1080/0264041031000140374.
48. Farina M, Cei A. Concentration and self-talk in football. In: Football psychology: From theory to practice. 2019. p. 415-36. doi:10.4324/9781315268248-19.
49. Candra O. The effect of concentration training on shooting free throw in basketball game. Int J Hum Mov Sports Sci. 2020;8(6):29-35. doi:10.13189/saj.2020.080705.
50. Allen MS, Jones M, McCarthy PJ, Sheehan-Mansfield S, Sheffield D. Emotions correlate with perceived mental effort and concentration disruption in adult sport performers. Eur J Sport Sci. 2013;13(6):697-706. doi:10.1080/17461391.2013.771381.
51. Wulf G, McConnel N, Gärtner M, Schwarz A. Enhancing the learning of sport skills through external-focus feedback. J Mot Behav. 2002;34(2):171-82. doi:10.1080/00222890209601939.
52. Singh H, Wulf G. Mind over body: Creating an external focus for sport skills. Eur J Sport Sci. 2022;22(4):610-6. doi:10.1080/17461391.2021.1887367.
53. Bognár J, Kiss Z, Csáki I, Trzaskoma-Bicsérdy G, Trzaskoma Ł, Révész L. Key factors influencing talent development of junior soccer players in sports academies: A focus on coaches and parents. Phys Cult Sport Stud Res. 2024;105:1-10. doi:10.2478/pcssr-2024-0023.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Amin Akbar, Anindra Guspa, Rila Muspita, Zulakbal Abd karim, Eko Purnomo, Firunika Intan Cahyani, Guo Yong Hon (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Unless otherwise stated, associated published material is distributed under the same licence.