Athlete and Practitioner Insights Regarding a Novel Coping-Oriented Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing Intervention in Youth Soccer

Andrew Evans,Tom Johnson,Jamie Barker,Ben Warner,Zoe Brenan,Robert Morris

doi:10.1123/tsp.2017-0125

Abstract

This paper aimed to provide athlete and practitioner insights regarding a novel Coping Oriented Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing (COPDMS) intervention developed and administered in youth soccer. Participants were 18 male soccer athletes (Mage = 17.29 ± .73 years) who belonged to the same professional academy in England. The COPDMS intervention comprised an initial sport psychology education session (week 1), a session introducing COPDMS (week 2), a COPDMS session (week 4), and a follow-up session (week 9). During the COPDMS session, athletes mutually-shared personal stories and/or information about transitions as they approached a time where they would gain a professional contract or would be released from their soccer academy. Athletes communicated a range of contextually-relevant demand and resource appraisals during the COPDMS session. Several athlete and practitioner insights about the COPDMS process and outcomes were provided which can guide future research and practitioners seeking to develop and deliver bespoke PDMS interventions in sport.

Highlights

IntroductionAthletes were introduced to Coping Oriented Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing (COPDMS) during a second session held in the soccer academy’s education room
Introduction to Coping Oriented Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing (COPDMS)Athletes were introduced to COPDMS during a second session held in the soccer academy’s education room
We present detail around our case, our COPDMS intervention, demand and resource appraisals communicated during our COPDMS session, athlete and practitioner insights, applied implications, limitations, and future researcher recommendations

Summary

Introduction

Athletes were introduced to COPDMS during a second session held in the soccer academy’s education room. The Educational Welfare Officer was present to suggest to athletes that. COPDMS would be beneficial for their development and not harm their welfare. Including the Educational Welfare Officer was anticipated to help overcome potential resistance to PDMS that athletes have expressed previously (Evans et al, 2013) whilst encouraging active participation (Barker et al, 2014). Athletes were handed an A4-sheet of paper containing four instructions and informed that the upcoming COPDMS session would involve preparing and sharing personal stories and/or information aligned to instructions: Instruction 1. Within your soccer career you will go through several changes. Provide an overview of the changes you have made as a person and as a soccer athlete. What were the demands or challenges associated with the changes you have made? How did you think, feel, and behave before, during, and after the changes you have identified?

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