There is a close link between moral education and sports activities. A well-organized sport can be an excellent means of transferring positive values to children and adolescents, which can influence motivation and group processes. This study aimed to analyse (a) the relationships between social, personal and individualistic values, motivational orientation and team cohesion amongst young soccer players and (b) compare differences in these variables between players competing in different age categories. Our participant sample comprised 401 male soccer players of Spanish teams (mean age = 14.64 years) competing in official competitive leagues, of five age categories, Under-10 years to Under-19. All participants responded to three instruments: the Values Scale for Positive Adolescent Development, the Perception of Success Questionnaire and the Group Environment Questionnaire. Correlation and regression, and analysis of differences between categories were performed. The results confirm that personal values are mainly related to task orientation, and individualistic values to ego orientation. The values of responsibility, integrity and honesty were the best predictors of task orientation, and social recognition and hedonism predict ego orientation. Honesty and responsibility were the main predictors of both task and social cohesion. Younger players showed a higher level of social values, task orientation and social cohesion, while older players show higher individualistic values and ego orientation. Implications for research or practice are discussed.

Much of the research on the psychological dynamics of performance teams suffers from the following limitations: consideration of only one theoretical framework and analysis of just one perspective (e.g., manager–coach or team member). To address these shortcomings, this study used a Global Cooperation concept that synthesized five psychological frameworks: coordination, cohesion, cooperation, integration, and identification. The objective of this study was to examine the level of congruence–symmetry between the two perspectives and the tendency for managers–coaches and team members to reduce cognitive dissonance in the perception of global cooperation. To this end, 108 managers–coaches and members of performance teams were studied (range: 23−60 years old) using a Cooperative Workteam Questionnaire (CWQ). Results revealed that the greatest amount of asymmetry was observed in Global Cooperation and Emotional Cooperation, while less asymmetry was found in Personal Growth, and good congruence–fit in Conditioned Cooperation. Results are discussed in terms of their theoretical meaning and practical implications for interventions on performance teams.

Aggressive behavior towards football referees is becoming increasingly common, and as a result we are getting used to it and coming to see it as an inevitable and intrinsic element of football matches. Spectators, players and coaches are all prone to take this view. This article studies how the types of aggression shown by these three groups towards the referee are related to one another, and how they are perceived by the referee, in amateur football. For this purpose, the phenomenon was assessed, using an ad-hoc form, both by an expert and by the referee, in 119 regional and youth football matches in the city of Valencia and surrounding municipalities. We analysed the data using a loglinear model, which enabled us to establish that from the referee’s perspective pairs of the above-mentioned groups influenced each other regardless of the attitude of the third group. On the other hand, departing from the traditional idea that aggressive behaviour by one of the groups determines the behaviour of the other two, the analysis of the expert’s opinions on the attitudes of the three groups led us to a model in which their respective actions were independent of one another.

The work shows a single case intervention based on the motivational coaching model the “Cantón’s Giraffe”, theoretically and experimentally proven in a 20-years-old dancesport practitioner, who considered improving her execution with her dance partner. Methodological triangulation was used [34], combining a test-retest quantitative measure (Using Ryff Psychological Wellbeing Scales; the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire and an ad-hoc instrument for the motivational force assessment) and subjective analysis of the responses from the interviews conducted. A three-phase intervention protocol was used [33]: identification, intervention, and follow-up. The results show an improvement in reevaluation scores, an increase in the subjective evaluation, and participant satisfaction and perceived resources raised at the end of the intervention. These results are in line with previous similar studies.

Various investigations demonstrate the importance of the relationship between the level of activation and sports performance. In addition, more information can be obtained if the psychophysiological activation is evaluated in actions similar to those of competition. The objective was to analyze the level of psychophysiological activation of the serve action and its effect on performance, during simulated competition situations. 30 badminton players (M= 23.7 years, SD = 7.52) participated, divided by performance level: high skill level (women=5, men=10) and low skill level (women=4, men=11). Independent variable: competition simulation with lower and higher demands during the serve. Dependent variable: level of psychophysiological activation (skin conductance, peripheral temperature, heart rate and left trapezius electromyography), subjective and performance. There were no significant differences in the variables electromyography, skin conductance due to the different conditions, but there were significant differences in peripheral temperature and subjective activation. The level of psychophysiological activation had an increase due to the actions carried out, but did not show differences due to the different conditions. In addition, since the type of simulation was done by imagining match situations, it may not have been enough to generate a sufficient increase to discriminate by conditions. Diversas investigaciones demuestran la importancia de la relación del nivel de activación con el rendimiento deportivo. Además, se puede obtener mayor información si evalúa la activación psicofisiológica en acciones similares a las competitivas. El objetivo fue analizar el nivel de activación psicofisiológica de la acción de saque y su efecto en el rendimiento, durante situaciones simuladas de competición. Participaron 30 jugadores de bádminton (M= 23.7 años, DE = 7.52), divididos por nivel de rendimiento: alto nivel de habilidad (mujeres=5, hombres=10) y bajo nivel de habilidad (mujeres=4, hombres=11). Variable independiente: simulación de competición con menor y mayor exigencia durante el saque. Variable dependiente: nivel de activación psicofisiológica (conductancia de la piel, temperatura periférica, frecuencia cardiaca y electromiografía de trapecio izquierdo), subjetiva y rendimiento. No hubo diferencias significativas en las variables electromiografía, conductancia de la piel debido a las diferentes condiciones, pero si en la temperatura periférica y la activación subjetiva. El nivel de activación psicofisiológica tuvo un incremento por las acciones llevadas a cabo, pero no mostró diferencias por las diferentes condiciones. Además, que el tipo de simulación se hizo imaginando situaciones de partido, es posible que no haya sido suficiente para generar un incremento suficiente para discriminar por condiciones. Diversas investigações demonstram a importância da relação entre o nível de ativação e o desempenho esportivo. Além disso, mais informações podem ser obtidas se a ativação psicofisiológica for avaliada em ações semelhantes às da competição. O objetivo foi analisar o nível de ativação psicofisiológica da ação de saque e seu efeito no desempenho, durante situações de competição simulada. Participaram 30 jogadores de badminton (M= 23,7 anos, DP = 7,52), divididos por nível de desempenho: alto nível de habilidade (mulheres=5, homens=10) e baixo nível de habilidade (mulheres=4, homens=11). Variável independente: simulação de competição com menor e maior demanda durante o saque. Variável dependente: nível de ativação psicofisiológica (condutância da pele, temperatura periférica, frequência cardíaca e eletromiografia do trapézio esquerdo), subjetiva e de desempenho. Não houve diferenças significativas nas variáveis eletromiografia, condutância da pele devido às diferentes condições, mas houve diferenças significativas na temperatura periférica e ativação subjetiva. O nível de ativação psicofisiológica teve um aumento devido às ações realizadas, mas não apresentou diferenças devido às diferentes condições. Além disso, como o tipo de simulação foi feito imaginando situações de jogo, pode não ter sido suficiente para gerar um aumento suficiente para discriminar por condições.