Abstract:

This study investigated whether psychological skills played a mediating role between athletic mental energy and sports courage in training female soccer players. The study developed an original theoretical model, which was tested using the Sobel test. Mediation analyses are theoretical research designs as they aim to add new information to the literature. In the Sobel test model, sports courage was the dependent variable, athletic mental energy was the independent variable, and soccer psychological skills were the mediating variable. The sample consisted of 307 female soccer players from the women's soccer leagues of the 2021-2022 Turkish Football Federation. Data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, the Soccer Psychological Skills Scale-16 (SPSS-16), the Sports Courage Scale-31 (SCS-31), and the Athletic Mental Energy Scale (AMES). This study sought answers to four hypotheses: (1) the effect of female soccer players' athletic mental energy on their psychological skills, (2) the effect of psychological skill levels on their courage levels, (3) The effect of athletic mental energy on their courage levels, and (4) the mediating effect of athletic mental energy between their psychological skills and their courage. Psychological skills affected athletic mental energy and courage positively. Athletic mental energy affected sports courage positively. Psychological skills played a mediating role between athletic mental energy and sports courage. The theoretical model was evaluated using three models and confirmed with hypotheses. Coaches and trainers should pay attention to the mental as well as physical aspects to train female soccer players. The results confirmed the theoretical model. Authorities should encourage female soccer players to engage in bold actions and inform them about the significance of athletic mental energy and psychological skills.

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