The mediating role of coach-athlete relationship in the effect of emotional intelligence of football players on athletic mental energy

The main purpose of this study is to determine the mediator role of the coach-athlete relationship in the indirect effect of emotional intelligence on athletic mental energy in football players. Within the scope of the research, a theoretical model has been established which suggests that emotional intelligence affects athletic mental energy and that the coach-athlete relationship played a mediator role in this relationship. This model has been tested using structural equation modeling. The study group of the research consists of 334 football players playing in Turkish Professional Football Leagues in the 2019-2020 season. In the study, information about socio-demographic variables were collected with a Personal Information Form created by the researcher. To achieve the purpose of the study, Lane et al's "Emotional Intelligence Inventory in Sports", adapted to Turkish by Adiloğulları and Görgülü; Jowett and Ntoumanis's "Trainer – Athlete Relationship Inventory", adapted to Turkish by Altıntaş et al; Lu et al's "Athletic Mental Energy Scale", adapted to Turkish by Yıldız et al were used. As a result of the research, it was determined that emotional intelligence affects athletic mental energy and the coach-athlete relationship. Also, it was determined that the coach-athlete relationship affects athletic mental energy and played a mediator role in the indirect relationship between emotional intelligence and athletic mental energy. Consequently, the proposed theoretical model has been confirmed.