Exploring Elite Soccer Players' Attentional Focus in Performance Tasks and Game Situations

The purpose of this study was to investigate elite soccer players' attentional focus during their best performances, better understand the strategies they use to enter or re-enter optimal attentional states, and explore potential attentional differences according to soccer positions, performance tasks, and game situations. No previous studies have explored elite soccer players' attentional skills from a naturalistic and qualitative perspective in such detail. The growing interest in soccer among Canadians provided further justification for this study. Data collection consisted of individual semi-structured interviews with eight elite soccer players from five main soccer positions, namely goalkeeper, defender, wing, midfielder, and forward. Cross-case thematic analysis indicated positive thinking and pre-performance routines as important sources of optimal focus. Attentional focus varied according to soccer positions and performance tasks. Information processing, sport expertise, and attentional systems theoretical frameworks informed the discussion of results. Applied and theoretical implications were drawn and future studies were recommended.

Grantor dc:publisher

Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Alves Ballón Tedesqui, Rafael

Contributors dc:contributor

• Terrance, Orlick

• Soccer
• Attentional focus
• Elite athletes
• Performance tasks

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-3239

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/26141