The aim of this study was to examine the perceptions of within-career transition, as experienced by student-athletes striving to reach the international level. Interviews were used to examine the perceptions of 26 Swedish student-athletes with a mean age of 22.5 years practicing individual sportsatthe national elite level, involved in a career assistance program. Categories identified through thematiccontent analysis were changes experienced in the transition, the career assistance program, resources to adjust to the new level in sport, satisfaction with their current situation, and strategies to adjust to the new level in sport. The athletes highlighted the value of interpersonal support and commitment, and recognized the need to develop further coping strategies, such as stress and time management. Practical implications for promoting successful within-career transitions are discussed © 2013 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

The purpose of this study was to examine if individual goal setting are being used byprofessional soccer players, what kind of goal setting is preferred and which of those areperceived as most effective. How the use of goal settings are related to professional soccerplayers and elite junior players perceived competence and motivation is also being examined.Also difference between regular, non-regular, juniors and senior players was studied. Finally,the interaction between the use of goal settings, motivation and perceived competence wereexamined. 101 soccer players participated in the study. A quantitative method with thequestionnaires GSSQ, TEOSQ and Harter’s competence questionnaire was used. The resultsshowed that performance goals were the most preferred and that task orientation was morecommon than ego. Perceived effectiveness of goal setting and the player’s motivation waslowest among non-regular juniors. Interaction results also showed that non-regular juniorsshowed low perceived competence. The results are discussed in relation to the essay’stheoretical framework.

Keywords: Goal settings, motivation, perceived competence, professional/elite soccer players.

Objectives: The main objectives of this article are to: (a) investigate if there are any meaningful differences between adjusted and unadjusted effect sizes (b) compare the outcomes from parametric and non-parametric effect sizes to determine if the potential differences might influence the interpretation of results, (c) discuss the importance of reporting confidence intervals in research, and discuss how to interpret effect sizes in terms of practical real-world meaning.

Design: Review.

Method: A review of how to estimate and interpret various effect sizes was conducted. Hypothetical examples were then used to exemplify the issues stated in the objectives.

Results: The results from the hypothetical research designs showed that: (a) there is a substantial difference between adjusted and non-adjusted effect sizes especially in studies with small sample sizes, and (b) there are differences in outcomes between the parametric and non-parametric effect size formulas that may affect interpretations of results.

Conclusions: The different hypothetical examples in this article clearly demonstrate the importance of treating data in ways that minimize potential biases and the central issues of how to discuss the meaningfulness of effect sizes in research. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka om de handbollsspelare som når Riksläger 4 skiljer sig åt i användandet av copingstrategier jämfört med de handbollsspelare som inte når Riksläger 4. Resultatet visade att spelare som deltog på läger R4 uppvisade högre värden av copingstrategierna: coping with adversity,concentration,confidence and achievment against coachability, peaking under pressure och freedomofworry än den gruppen av spelare som endast deltog vid R1. Resultatet tyder på att de spelare som blir uttagna till R4 i högre utsträckning använder sig av effektivare copingstrategier något som även är i linje med tidigare forskning (t.ex. van Yperen, 2009). Författarna rekommenderar därför både tränare och spelare att öka sin kunskap kring copingstrategiers eventuella inverkan på prestation för att kunna optimera den aktives chanser att lyckas.

Involvement in competitive soccer is associated with high injury rates (Hägglund, 2007). In an attempt to identify psychosocial injury risk factors, several conceptual models have been developed, for example, Williams and Andersen Stress Injury Model (1998). The aim of the present study was to prospectively examine whether personality variables, stress and coping styles predicted injury occurrence in an elite soccer population. Fifty six soccer players competing in the Swedish Premiere Division completed four questionnaires prior to the start of the competitive season. These included: the Swedish University Scale of Personality, Life Events Survey for Collegiate Athletes, Football Worry Scale, and Brief COPE. Subsequent to the initial data collection, participants completed the Daily Hassle and Uplift Scale, once per week for a 13-week period, and all injuries requiring a minimum 1-day absence from competition were recorded by team physiotherapists. A path analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of specific personality (e.g., somatic trait anxiety), stress and coping variables on injury frequency. Results suggest a model in which daily hassles mediate the relationship between anxiety, negative life event stress, social worry and injury, accounting for 24% of the variance in injury occurrence. This finding supports previous research highlighting the role of anxiety and chronic stress in injury vulnerability (Johnson & Ivarsson, in press). Findings suggest the need for players, coaches and physiotherapists to address both major negative life events and daily hassles in minimizing injury risk. It is also recommended that coaches develop individualized stress monitoring programs for diminishing injury occurrence.

Itroduction: Involvement in competitive soccer is connected with a high injury rate (Hägglund, 2007). Previous research has suggested that a psychosocial stress (both major and minor stressors) have a great impact on injury risk (Rogers & Landers, 2005; Fawkner et al., 1999).

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate if individual level and change in psychosocial stress (daily hassle) during a 7 week period could predict injuries among Swedish Premiere League soccer players.

Method: The participants were 56 (38 males and 18 females) Swedish Premiere League soccer players. Participants ranged in age from 16 – 36 years (M = 25, 05, SD = 5, 46). Participants completed the Hassle and Uplift Scale once a week for a 7-week period. During the research period, the physiotherapists for each team were asked to record any injuries occurring during the study period. Latent grpwth curve models were used to examine whether the level and change in psychological stress could predict the frequency of injury over the 7 week period.

Result: The results showed that both high initial levels of daily hassle and negative changes in it were associated with more injuries. Moreover, intra-class correlation showed that 23,4 % of the variance in hassle over the 7 repeated observations could be explained by the within-person variance, whereas the majority of variance (76,6%) could be attributed to between-person variance.

Discussion: The findings highlight the importance of focusing on state variables using prospective designs and appropriate change analysis in order to detect complex and dynamic associations across time in injury prediction research. It is also important to acknowledging and investigating individual differeces in order to understand how psychosocial stressors influence different athletes. Recommendations for players, coaches and physiotherapies are to be observant of the influence from daily hassles in order to be able to help the athlete to decrease injury risk by for example adjusting his/her training load due to psychological status.

Introduction: The term sport psychology refers to psychological aspects of sport, physical recreation, physical education, exercise, health, and related physical activities. The European Sport Psychology Federation (FEPSAC) works for the development of the field of sport psychology and exercise from a European and global perspective. Due to Sport Psychology professionals’ specialised knowledge and the hypothetical potential for harm, the ethical principles are guidelines for FEPSAC professionals to act responsibly and ethically in the provision of professional services. These principles are intended to ensure the dignity and welfare of all groups, organisations and individuals with whom FEPSAC professionals may interact with and provide professional services to. Altogether seven ethical principles is stated that guides FEPSAC research and applied sport psychology. These are: a) Professional and Social Responsibility, b) Competence, c) Consent, d) Confidentiality, e) Integrity, f) Personal Conduct, g) Research. Recommendations: a) FEPSAC members are responsible for safeguarding the public and the FEPSAC from members who are deficient in ethical conduct. They should uphold professional and social standards of conduct and accept appropriate responsibility for their behaviour. b) FEPSAC members should strive to maintain the highest standards of competence in their work. c) No FEPSAC members should undertake any work without first having the informed consent of all participating clients. This is done primarily, through the client signing a document setting detailing all information relevant to the proposed investigation, intervention, treatments or test. d) FEPSAC members should preserve the confidentiality of the information acquired in their work which should not be developed without prior written consent of a client. Clients should be informed that they have a right to a copy of such information relating to them if so requested. f) FEPSAC members should promote integrity in research, teaching, and practice of sport psychology. g) FEPSAC members shall conduct themselves in a manner beneficial to the well-being of their clients and in a way that brings credit to the field of sport psychology. h) FEPSAC members should comply with codes, statements, guidelines and other directives developed. Moreover, they should accurately report the data they have gathered and the results of their research, and state clearly if any data on which the publication is based have been published previously.

It is important to understand the psychosocial mechanisms underlying susceptibility to injury in sport settings because of the potential to enhance well-being at the individual level and reduce economic costs for society. Likewise, it is vital to understand psychosocial factors influencing injury rehabilitation among adolescent and senior athletes. Altogether five studies will be presented in this symposium. In a longitudinal and prospective study, Ivarsson et al recorded injury occurrence among elite soccer players. Findings suggest a model in which daily hassles mediate a relationship between anxiety, negative life event stress, social worry and injury accounting for 24% of the variance in injury frequency. Tranaeus & Johnson reported several findings in regards to experience of psychosocial risk factors preceding overuse injury among elite floorball players. For instance, a number of players stated concerns in the private life just prior to the occurrence of injury. While Klienert report significant interactions between psychosomatic complaints and the occurrence of severe injury during tournament among female soccer players, Shipherd et al analysis of the relationship between conformity to the sport ethic and injury in adolescent athletes revealed athletes scoring higher in sport ethic conformity reported incurring a significant great number of injuries than their peers. In the final study Podlog et al reports about self presentation concerns and risky rehabilitation among adolescent athletes. Findings suggest that athletes with greater self-presentational concerns may be more likely to engage in risky rehabilitation behavior. Practical implications for athletes, coaches and sport psychology practitioner will be discussed.

This paper presents the mobilization model of counseling athletes in crisis-transitions that is a six-step educationally oriented framework for a dialogue between a consultant and a client, supporting the client to analyze his/her crisis-transition, and finding the best possible solution based on the three coping alternatives (termed “rejection”, “acceptance”, and “fighting”) outlined in the mobilization model. Starting out with a case example, the author proceeds with theoretical underpinning and a step-by-step description of the mobilization model, and finishes with consultants’ and clients’ reflections on the mobilization model application.

The objectives of this study were (1) to explore the Transition Monitoring Survey (TMS) for assessing athletes’ transition from junior to senior sports, (2) to describe the transition from junior to senior sports in Swedish athletes based on the TMS data, and (3) to explore how the transition variables contribute to the athletes’ perceived degree of adjustment to the senior level and to their sport and life satisfaction. The TMS was developed based on career development/transition frameworks (Stambulova, 1994, 2003; Wylleman & Lavallee, 2004) and previous qualitative research on the transition from junior to senior sports. Altogether 416 participants organized in three samples were involved in this exploratory study. The study illuminated the strong points of the TMS as a theoretically based and culturally adapted instrument, but it also shed a light on some deficits of the TMS that should be eliminated in its further use in transition research. © 2012 Copyright International Society of Sport Psychology.

Objectives: This paper is aimed at (a) analysing the psychological context of complex coordination sports (CCSs) and specific contextual factors related to Olympic Games, (b) sharing the authors' experiences in Olympic preparation of athletes in diving, figure skating, and artistic and rhythmic gymnastics with an emphasis on typical working issues and strategies; and (c) summarizing the authors' reflections on the role of the national sport system and cultural contexts in Olympic preparation and major lessons learnt in working with Olympic athletes. Design and Method: Analysing and structuring the authors' professional experiences in working with Olympic athletes in CCSs based on the scientist-practitioner model. Results: Major results include (a) a summary of psychological context for Olympic athletes in CCSs; (b) the temporal structure of Olympic preparation; (c) four categories of Olympic athletes; (d) consultants' strategies, reflecting major psychological aspects of Olympic preparation in CCSs; and (e) lessons learnt in working with Olympic athletes in CCSs. Conclusion: The authors emphasize the large responsibility of sport psychology practitioners working with Olympic athletes in CCSs and share lessons learnt, with a focus on seven major sport psychology approaches validated in their practice. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Previous research has shown that the risk of traumatic and/or overuse injury occurring in competitive floorball is relatively high during a playing season. Most injuries occur because the athletes are exposed to a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors such as physiological and psychological situations. The aim of this study is to describe athletes' experience of psychosocial risk factors preceding overuse injury. A qualitative study was conducted using a semi-structured interview guide and based on nine diagnosed and presently overuse injured men in the premier league floorball in Sweden during 2010. To uncover the underlying meaning in the transcribed interviews, a thematic content analysis was used. Several themes emerged in the data. Four of the main themes were: a) players experienced pain while competing and faced difficulties to separate normal/daily pain as warnings signals of an injury, b) both key-players and other players feared losing their position during rehabilitation time, c) a number of players stated concerns in the private area (partners) at the time the injury occurred, d) some athletes experienced an understanding communication climate within the team whilst others reported no acceptance from coaches when complaining about pain. The results from this study might explain why overuse injuries were sustained during all phases of the season, including preseason. It is further speculated that periods of rest and/or rehab during the injury period might lead to players experiencing mental pressure. Implications of the results will be discussed with athletes, coaches and sport psychology practitioners.

Background: According to current statistics ice hockey is ranked as a high-risk injury sport. However, recent research shows the possibility of preventing the occurrence of sport-related injury in high-risk sport through psychological intervention.Objective: The objective was to study the potential of reducing injuries among male elite ice hockey players through brief psychological interventions during a season. Design: An experimental prospective intervention study, using a matched pair, experimental control group design was used followed by a pretest–posttest and a qualitative analysis.Setting: One Swedish elite ice hockey team was contacted for psychometric testing. Moreover, brief intervention was performed outside the training facilities of the team. Main Outcome Measurement: Athletic coping skills inventory— 28 and the sports anxiety scale was used to measure coping and anxiety before and after the intervention. A sport injury frequency form was used to record all injuries before and during the study. In addition, a critical incidence diary was used (experimental group) to record situations that were experienced as positive and negative within as well as outside ice hockey.Participants: Altogether 10 players in the experimental group and 14 players in the control group constituted the group of participants in the study. Interventions: Five individual sessions using somatic and cognitive intervention as well as self-confidence and goal-setting training were conducted within the experimental group.Results: The study showed that the experimental group faced fewer injuries compared with the control group (p,0.05). Although no statistical differences emerge using the psychometrics, the qualitative analysis, using citation techniques of the critical incidence diary, showed that the experimental group had moredifficulty finding negative stressful moments at the end of the study compared with the beginning. Conclusion: It seems possible to decrease sport-related injuries through psychological interventions such as stress management in a brief intervention programme for ice hockey players.