Investigation of the relationship between sportive mental endurance level and selected motoric characteristics in football players

In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between mental endurance level and selected motoric features of football players. In the 2020-2021 football season, 234 football players playing in regional amateur leagues and the U18 and U19 categories and playing in the teams of the Mediterranean Region, Aegean Region, Marmara Region and Western Black Sea Region participated in the research. Relational screening model, which is used to determine the relationship between two or more variables, was used in the study. "Mental Endurance Inventory in Sports" was used to determine the mental toughness levels of the football players participating in the research. YOYO-I intermittent recovery test, RAST multiple sprint test, 100 m sprint run, 60 second push-up test, 60 second sit-up pull test and leg strength test were used to determine the basic motoric characteristics of football players. Spearman Correlation Analysis was used in SPSS 22.0 program in the analysis process of the data obtained in the research. Simple linear regression analysis was used to examine the effects of some motoric and physiological characteristics on mental endurance. The Mann Whitney U test was used for the Comparison of Motoric Characteristics According to the Mental Endurance Levels of the Groups. At the end of the study, it was determined that there were positive and significant relationships between the mental endurance levels, aerobic and anaerobic capacities of the football players, and their performance in push-ups, sit-ups and 100 m sprint (p<0.05). On the other hand, it was determined that there was no significant relationship between the mental endurance levels of the football players and their leg strength performance (p>0.05). As a result, it was seen that the mental endurance level of football players positively affects aerobic and anaerobic capacity and speed upper extremity muscular endurance performance. At this point, it can be said that mental endurance exercises should be included in addition to conditioning training in the process of improving physical and physiological performance parameters in football players.