A comparative study of the psychological traits and group cohesion traits among the playing lines of young football players under (20) years of age
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37359/JOPE.V37(1)2025.2129Keywords:
psychological traits , group cohesion traits , young football playersAbstract
This study investigates the differences in psychological climate and group cohesion across different playing lines (defense, midfield, attack, and goalkeepers) among youth football players under 20 years of age in the Iraqi Premier League. Recognizing the critical role psychological factors play in athletic performance, the researchers aimed to determine how these variables vary based on players' field positions.
A descriptive comparative approach was employed, involving a purposive sample of 148 players (representing 75.51% of the research population). Two validated scales were used: the Psychological Climate Scale (Al-Hayali, 2011) and the Group Cohesion Scale (Alawi, 1984). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and the LSD test for post hoc comparisons.
Findings revealed statistically significant differences in psychological climate among playing lines, particularly between midfielders and both defenders (p = 0.011) and attackers (p < 0.001), favoring attackers. No significant differences were found in group cohesion across the playing lines (p > 0.05). These results suggest that midfielders experience distinct psychological pressures due to their pivotal role in connecting defense and attack, potentially affecting their perception of the team environment.
The study underscores the importance of tailored psychological training and leadership strategies that consider positional roles. Enhancing psychological climate—especially among midfielders—may contribute to improved performance and team synergy. Coaches are encouraged to promote balanced cohesion and address psychological disparities to foster a unified and mentally resilient team.
References
Brown, .. S. (1996). Anew Look at Psycholoyical Climate And Relationship To gop Lnvolvement، Effort. ، and Per Fomance. gournal of.
Brown, R., & Hewstone, M. (2005). An integrative theory of intergroup contact. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 37, 255-343. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(05)37005-5
Cairo: Kitab Center for Publishing
Carron, A. V., & Brawley, L. R. (2000). Cohesion: Conceptual and measurement issues. Small Group Research, 31(1), 89-106.
Carron, A. V., Brawley, L. R., & Widmeyer, W. N. (1998). The measurement of cohesiveness in sport groups. In Advances in sport and exercise psychology measurement (pp. 213-226). Fitness Information Technology.
Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310-357. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.98.2.310
Diaa Rahman Jassim (2024.3.2) Group cohesion among the Iraqi youth football team players, Wasit Journal of Sports Sciences
Eccles, D. W., & Tenenbaum, G. (2004). Why an expert team is more than a team of experts: A social-cognitive conceptualization of team coordination and communication in sport. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 26(4), 542-560.
Evans, C. R., & Dion, K. L. (1991). Group cohesion and performance: A meta-analysis. Small Group Research, 22(2), 175-186.
Eys, M. A., Hardy, J., Carron, A. V., & Beauchamp, M. R. (2009). The relationship between task cohesion and task self-efficacy in elite team sport athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27(3), 240-242.
Eys, M. A., Loughead, T. M., Bray, S. R., & Carron, A. V. (2009). Development of a cohesion questionnaire for youth: The Youth Sport Environment Questionnaire. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 31(3), 390-408.
Gould, D., Greenleaf, C., & Chung, Y. (2002). A survey of US Olympic coaches: Variables perceived to have influenced athlete performances and coach effectiveness. The Sport Psychologist, 16(3), 229-250.
HalahAtiyah, M., Alhamayd, Q. A., QasimKhalaf, S., AmerAbdulhussein, A., JawadKadhim, M., KohChoonLian, D., HashimHammood, A., & YahyaFaris Mohsen, G. (2024). EXTRAPOLATION OF THE MACHINE AND ITS EFFICIENCY IN DEVELOPING THE SKILL PERFORMANCE AND ACCURACY OF DRIBBLING IN YOUTH FOOTBALL. International Development Planning Review, 23(1), 1037–1047.
Iverson, R. D., & Maguire, C. (2000). The relationship between job and life satisfaction: Evidence from a remote mining community. Human Relations, 53(6), 807-839.
Jones, G. R., & George, J. M. (1998). The experience and evolution of trust: Implications for cooperation and teamwork. Academy of Management Re…
Kadhim, M. J. (2023). Evaluation Of The Existence Of Gender Disparities In Iraq. International Journal of Social Trends, 1(1), 10–16.
Kadhim, M. J. (2024). Social Networks’ Place in Contemporary Political Movements. International Journal of Social Trends, 2(2), 51–59.
Kadhim, M. J., & Mousa, A. M. (2024). The use of an innovative device to improve the efficiency of the posterior quadriceps muscle of the man after the anterior cruciate ligament injury of advanced soccer players. Journal of Physical Education (20736452), 36(1).
Kazim, M. J., Zughair, A. L. A. A., & Shihab, G. M. (2019). The effect of zinc intake on the accumulation of lactic acid after cooper testing among football Premier league referees. Sciences Journal Of Physical Education, 12(5).
Khair El-Din Kweis. (1997). Sports Meeting, Cairo
Khedir, S. Q. (2018). The Legal Protection and Regulation of Sponsorship Rights in English Football. University of Leeds.
Majed Hamdan Al-Assaf (2011). The Safe Classroom Environment, Jordan: Al-Warraq Foundation for Publishing and Distribution
Mondher, H. A., & Khalaf, S. Q. (2023). The Effect of Game–Like Exercises on the Development of Some Physical Abilities and Fundamental skills In Futsal. Journal of Physical Education, 35(2).
Mondil, M. T., Prof, A., & Hussein, L. (2023). The Effect Of Using An Innovative Device On Learning The Movement Of The Feet And The Speed Of Kinetic Response, And Some Badminton Skills For Female Students. Pakistan Heart Journal, 56(02), 156–164.
Muhammad Al-Badi (1979). Introduction to Measuring the Psychological Climate of
Muhammad Amin (2015). The Human Characteristics of the Leader and Their Relationship to the Cohesion of the Volleyball Sports Team, Journal of Physical Research.
Muhammad Hasan Allawi (1992). Psychology of Training and Competitions Volume7
Muhammad Hasan Allawi (1994). Sports Psychology, Cairo: Dar Al-Maaref
Muhammad Hasan Allawi (1998). Encyclopedia of Sports Psychological Tests
Muhammad Hasan Allawi (1998). Psychology of Sports Groups, Cairo: Kitab Center
Omar Shiban (1988) Administrative Psychology, Cairo: Arab House for Books
Pettigrew, T. F., & Tropp, L. R. (2006). A meta-analytic test of intergroup contact theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(5), 751-783. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.90.5.751
Ramzi Rasmi Jaber (6.9 2009) The extent of cohesion among football players and its relationship to their achievement in the Palestinian Premier League, Al-Qadisiyah District, Sciences and Education Sports, page 432
Salman, S. M., Kadhim, M. J., & Shihab, G. M. (2022). The effect of special exercises in the rehabilitation of the shoulder muscle for the youth wrestling category. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION, 14(5), 4606–4609. https://doi.org/10.9756/INTJECSE/V14I5.555
Shukr, L. H. (2024). The effect of using virtual reality glasses in developing spatial perception among badminton players. Damo Journal of Sports Sciences, 1(1).
Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1986). The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. In S. Worchel & W. G. Austin (Eds.), Psychology of Intergroup Relations (pp. 7-24). Chicago: Nelll.
Widmeyer, W. N., Brawley, L. R., & Carron, A. V. (1985). The measurement of cohesion in sport teams: The Group Environment Questionnaire. London, ON: Sports Dynamics.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Physical Education
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The Journal of Physical Education (JOPE) applies a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0), which lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. For more information, click the link : 