Journal of Sport Behavior

Untying the Knot:

2025-02-01T15:14:38-08:00

According to Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1980; 1985), autonomy-supportive coaches encourage choice and self-initiative in their athletes. In contrast, coaches who exhibit controlling coaching behaviors act in an authoritarian and coercive manner (Amorose & Anderson-Butcher, 2015). Previous research has shown that athletes who perceive their coaches to engage in autonomy-supportive behaviors have decreased symptoms of burnout compared to those who perceive their coaches as controlling (Cho et al., 2019; Mellano et al., 2022). The relationship between athletes’ perceptions of coaching behaviors and burnout symptoms may be further influenced by competitive trait anxiety (Cho et al., 2019), as athletes’ levels of competitive trait anxiety are related to both perceived coaching behaviors and athlete burnout symptoms (Cremades et al., 2011). However, existing literature has yet to examine how the interaction between perceived coaching behaviors and both the intensity and direction of competitive trait anxiety may influence athlete burnout symptoms. Accordingly, the purpose of the current study was to examine if athletes’ perceived coach behaviors and intensity and direction of competitive trait anxiety would predict athlete burnout symptoms. Self-report measures were completed by 371 Division I University athletes. Results of three hierarchical regression analyses displayed perceived autonomy-supportive coaching behaviors and the intensity of competitive trait anxiety to significantly predict each burnout symptom. It is recommended that sport staff engage in autonomy-supportive behaviors and consider incorporating various mental skills to help athletes manage their competitive trait anxiety levels and increase facilitative perceptions of competitive trait anxiety.

From Die-Hards to Fair-Weather Fans:

2025-06-27T18:05:18-07:00

For many, being a sport fan is a core part of their identity, driving reactions when that identity feels threatened. This study examines how long-time WNBA fans may strive to differentiate themselves from the millions of new fans drawn to players like Caitlyn Clark, as they seek to maintain their established sense of identity. Using Google Search Tools, we found that the term “Longtime WNBA Fans” is growing in popularity, suggesting concerns about group distinctiveness. We discuss the theoretical rationale for this distinctiveness and a troubling trend of bias associated with new fans.

Training and match load monitoring in Argentinean professional soccer players:

2025-05-29T18:32:50-07:00

Training/match load monitoring is considered a relevant procedure in order to control and identify the need for adjusting the stimuli provided to the match demands in soccer players. Besides, it can be fundamental to reduce the injury risk as a means of optimizing performance when the teams have to participate in congested match periods. The main aim of the present study was to quantify and compare weekly accumulated training and match load (and the corresponding training/match ratio; TMr) in Argentine professional soccer players during two in-season periods (regular competition [RP] vs. match congested period [MCP]). Ten soccer players were considered starters over two different in-season periods of 8 weeks. The external load was monitored by GPS (50-Hz) of each player during typical training sessions and official matches. Weekly data on total distance covered (TD), running distance (RD), high-speed distance (HSD), sprint distance (SPD), very high-intensity accelerations-decelerations (VHIA; VHID), player load (PL), and high metabolic power distance (HMLD) were recorded. An individual TMr was calculated for each external load measure. During MCP, the players presented significantly lower values only in external training load for TD, RD, SP, and PL (p < .01), but no significant differences were found for the rest of the metrics related to relative training and match load (p > .05). Regarding the absolute accumulative load, every training load variable decreased during MCP, whereas the opposite was observed for the total match metrics. Additionally, all the TMr ratios were significantly higher during the RP (p < .001). The findings indicate that a MCP had no impact on the relative match load in any studied variable, with substantially higher values of VHIA. Moreover, an adequate stimulus of this mentioned variable should be applied during the days before the competition, especially in MCP. This information can help to improve training prescriptions based on a weekly periodization strategy for both starting and non-starting players, especially during match-congested periods.

A Qualitative Examination of the Social Manifestations of Participating in Fantasy Sports

2025-06-11T20:24:30-07:00

As technology infiltrates society, the popularity of products like fantasy sports has become apparent. In 2024, 18% of adults in the United States played fantasy sports according to the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association (FSGA) (Mossa, 2025). Most scholarly attention has focused on participants’ motivation for playing fantasy sports, with less examination of the social dynamics. To gather a deep understanding of the social dimensions of fantasy leagues, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with individuals who participate in annual leagues. Results of these interviews revealed that fantasy sports operate as a social tool to foster camaraderie, maintain connections, and stimulate conversation. Additionally, both smack talk/bragging rights and nostalgia were significant aspects of the fantasy sport experience. This study contributes to the fantasy sport literature and provides insights for sport managers and marketers. The research is useful and novel as it takes a qualitative approach and examines outcomes of fantasy sport participation in detail.

Coping Skills of International Skydivers

2025-05-06T10:01:35-07:00

Today, there is a growing trend for athletes to participate in high-risk or extreme sports. In skydiving, there is minimal room for error with the ever-present possibility of catastrophic injury or death; therefore, a mindset tempered with the ability to cope with stress leading to an optimal outcome in this sport is crucial. From a psychological perspective, little is known about this sport. Therefore, this study was conducted to quantify coping skills of international skydivers. Following written informed consent, 291 skydivers (216 males, 75 females; mean age = 37.3 ± 10.5 yrs) completed the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI; Smith et al., 1995), and the short form of the Sports Inventory for Pain (SIP-15; Bourgeois et al., 2009). Data were grouped by gender, skill level (rated, unrated), injury history (injured, noninjured), experience (0-500, 501-1999, 2000+ jumps), and domicile (foreign, USA). MANOVAs (Wilks’λ) indicated significant main effects across gender (F_11,291= 1.945; p = 0.034), skill level (F_11,224= 3.265; p < 0.0001), and injury history (F_11,291= 4.434; p = 0.001), but not across experience (F_11,291= 1.410; p = 0.102) or domicile (F_11,279= 0.827; p = 0.692). Post hoc analyses revealed that males scored significantly higher (p = .05 to .001) in COPE, PEAK, FREE, CONF, PCR, COP, SOM, and TCR than females. Rated skydivers responded significantly higher (p = .05 to .0001) in COPE, PEAK, FREE, CONF, PCR, and SOM than unrated peers. Competitors with injury history responded significantly higher (p = .05 to .0001) across most athletic coping subscales than noninjured skydivers. This study provided a unique profile into coping skills of skydivers not previously reported in the literature. Future research quantifying the association between coping response and type/severity of injury, as confirmed in other sport groups, is warranted.