Comparison of mental training skill levels of footballers and taekwondo players

In this study, it was aimed to compare the mental training skill levels used by football players and taekwondo players. In this study, the relational scanning model was used. The study group consists of 320 athletes, 119 men and 201 women. The Sport Mental Training Questionnaire "SMTQ" was used in the study, which was developed by Behnke et al. (2017) and adapted into Turkish by Yarayan and İlhan (2018) by conducting a validity and reliability study. In addition, a Personal Information Form containing demographic information of the participants was used as a data collection tool. SPSS 25 package program was used in the analysis of the data. T-test, one-way analysis of variance and correlation analysis were used in the analyzes. In addition, in the first part of the analysis, Pearson Correlation Coefficient technique was used to determine whether the relationship between variables was significant. As a result of the analysis, it is seen that the taekwondo and football groups, which are the branches of the athletes, differ significantly (p <0.05) for the variables of mental performance and interpersonal skills. However, no significant difference was found between taekwondo players and football players for the variables of mental basic skills, mental performance and mental stimulation (p> 0.05). According to the findings obtained from the research; A positive and significant relationship was found between the age variable and mental skills level (p <0.05). In this case, it can be said that mental skills will increase as age increases. According to another finding obtained in the study, the relationships of experience variables in sports with research variables are significant (p <0.05) and positive. According to another finding obtained from the research; lower level of mental training inventory scale of gender groups It is observed that there is no difference (p> 0.05) in the context of mental basic skills, mental performance, interpersonal skills, self-talk and mental stimulation variables. Another finding obtained from the study is that when we look at the averages of the Sub-Dimensions of the Mental Training Inventory Scale, it is seen that the highest scores in all variables, followed by the youth and finally the stars. In the study, according to the positions the athletes played, it was observed that those who played left in the mental basic skills variable, right-back and goalkeepers in interpersonal skills, and only goalkeepers in talking to yourself differed significantly from those who played in other positions and had higher average scores. According to the findings obtaine from the research, it is seen that the state of being national differs (p <0.05) in the context of the sub-dimensions of the mental training inventory scale, namely basic mental skills, mental performance, interpersonal skills, talking to yourself and mental stimulation. As a result; It is seen that the taekwondo and football groups, which are the branches of athletes, differ significantly (p <0.05) for the variables of mental performance and interpersonal skills. However, it was found that there was no significant difference between taekwondo players and footballers for the variables of basic mental skills, mental performance and mental stimulation (p> 0.05).