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Original Article

Inner Obstacles and Goal-Directed Behaviors of Elite and Youth-Level Cyclists

A Qualitative Analysis From the Perspective of Athletes and Coaches

Published Online:December 22, 2023https://doi.org/10.1026/2941-7597/a000002

Abstract

Abstract: As self-regulation is crucial in top-level performance, prior investigations aimed at studying the efficacy of the self-regulatory strategy of implementation intentions (i. e., if–then plans) in athletic performance. We investigated the inner obstacles (if) that athletes face in competitive situations and assessed the corresponding goal-directed behaviors (then) to design effective implementation intention theory-based interventions. We asked elite and youth-level cyclists (Study 1; N = 34; age: M = 23.7 ± 9.9 years) with a self-designed questionnaire and used a reworded version for assessing these research questions from a coach’s perspective (Study 2; N = 42; age: M = 50.2 ± 9.8 years). Dealing with demanding situations, pressure, and concentration were the most frequently named inner obstacles, while goal-directed behaviors were preparation, self-encouragement, relaxation (athletes), and concentration (coaches). The results highlight the emotional–psychological challenges that elite and youth-level cycling athletes face and provide insights for sport psychological research with implementation intentions.


Innere Hindernisse und zielgerichtetes Verhalten von Radsportler_innen der Elite- und Jugendklasse. Eine qualitative Analyse aus der Perspektive von Athlet_innen und Trainer_innen

Zusammenfassung: Da Selbstregulierung für Spitzenleistungen entscheidend ist, wurde in früheren Untersuchungen die Wirksamkeit der Selbstregulierungsstrategie Implementierungsintentionen (sog. Wenn-Dann Pläne) auf sportliche Leistung untersucht. Wir untersuchten innere Hindernisse (Wenn), mit denen Athlet_innen in Wettkampfsituationen konfrontiert sind, und erfassten die entsprechenden zielgerichteten Verhaltensweisen (Dann), um wirksame, auf der Theorie der Implementierungsintentionen basierende Interventionen zu entwickeln. Wir befragten Spitzen- und Nachwuchsradsportler_innen (Studie 1; N = 34; Alter: M = 23,7 ± 9,9 Jahre) mit einem selbst entworfenen Fragebogen und verwendeten eine umformulierte Version, um diese Forschungsfragen aus der Perspektive von Trainer_innen zu erfassen (Studie 2; N = 42; Alter: M = 50,2 ± 9,8 Jahre). Der Umgang mit herausfordernden Situationen, Druck und Konzentration wurden am häufigsten als innere Hindernisse genannt, zielgerichtete Verhaltensweisen waren hingegen Vorbereitung, Selbstermutigung und Entspannung (Sportler_innen) und Konzentration (Trainer_innen). Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen die (emotions)‌psychologischen Herausforderungen, mit denen Spitzen- und Nachwuchsradsportler_innen konfrontiert sind, und liefern Erkenntnisse für die sportpsychologische Forschung mit Implementierungsintentionen.

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