Iris Orbach

High-level Coaches’ Perceptions of their Professional Knowledge, Skills, and Characteristics

Abstract The purpose of this study was threefold: (a) to describe the different types of knowledge, skills, and individual characteristics of highlevel coaches from individual and team sports, as perceived by the coaches themselves; (b) to assess the similarities and differences between high-level individual and team coaches; and (c) to reflect on possible ways to improve the educational coaching programs for individual and team sports. Thirty-five high-level coaches from individual and team sports completed a questionnaire consisting of three parts: Knowledge, skills, and individual characteristics. Results revealed differences and similarities between team sport coaches (TSC) and individual sport coaches (ISC) in each of the three questionnaire components. It is recommended that coaches’ educational programs consider the research findings between ISCs and TSCs in their efforts to improve coaches’ knowledge and skills.

Development of Psychological Preparation Program for Football Referees: Pilot Study

Abstract Successful football referees should have an excellent ability to cope with competitive stress. Therefore, psychological preparation is a necessary component for improving referees’ professionalism and optimal performance. This paper focuses on two main objectives: (1) Developing a Psychological Preparation Program specifically for football referees; (2) Evaluating referees’ behavior in precompetitive routine and during a football match before and after exposure to the Psychological Preparation Program. Thirty football referees participated in a newly developed Psychological Preparation Program which included three parts: Educational (i.e., lectures and self-evaluation), Acquisition (i.e., individual meetings and development of preperformance routine), and Evaluation (i.e., self-evaluation and assessing referee’s activities during a match). As a result of the program and based on referees’ self-evaluation, it can be concluded that our Psychological Preparation Program has a positive impact on the self-confidence of referees and their ability to cope with competitive stress. Future directions and suggested topics are discussed.

The Effect of Biofeedback Training On Anxiety in Physical Education Teachers Short Title: Biofeedback Training and PE Teacher's Anxiety

Material and methods: A total of 57 PE teachers, age 25-59 years (M=40.5±9.02), volunteered to participate in the current study. The participants were graduate (MEd) students at an academic college in the southern part of Israel. The participants were randomly divided into three groups: LMA (n=20), BFB relaxation games (n=22); and Control (n=15). Two questionnaires were used to measure anxiety: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT). The research protocol included 21 sessions, each lasting 60 minutes.

Professional Coach: The Link between Science and Media

Abstract Sport science and sport media give special attention to professional coaches from individual and team sport. However, there is not a lot of knowledge on those two approaches: Science and media. Therefore, the purpose of this article was to present sport science approach oriented on research, and sport media approach based on description of “coach life stories”. In this article we describe five cases of individual and team coaches. Similarities and difference in these two approaches are discussed.

Professional Activities of the European Taekwondo Coach: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract The purpose of this manuscript is to establish and compare the basic professional activities that are important for successful performance of taekwondo coaches from Poland and several other European countries. Fifty-nine high level taekwondo coaches were divided into two groups: Group A included 31 European coaches from seven countries and Group B included 28 Polish coaches. Participants were asked to respond by e-mail to a questionnaire that included a list of 20 basic coaches’ professional activities. Results revealed that managing physical and technical preparation and planning the process of preparing competitiors are important for suceess in taekwondo for both groups. Moreover, differences in professional coach’s activities are discussed.