The performance environment in football

The first phase of this research project focused on developing an understanding of the performance environment in football, that is, the array of factors impacting individual and team performance in competitive situations. Study one was a qualitative investigation of the performance environment of the England youth football teams. National coaches, sport scientists, and players were interviewed regarding the factors that influenced performance at international tournaments. The main positives included: player understanding, strong team cohesion, managed free-time activities, and a detailed knowledge of opposition. The main negatives included: over coaching, player boredom, limited player free-time, player anxiety, and physical fatigue. Overall, results revealed 158 raw data themes, from which eight dimensions were abstracted to describe the performance environment. [Continues.]