Psychological Self-talk Interventions in Soccer PerformanceSTFNCT07382518
Effects of Motivational and Instructional Self-Talk on Performance and Stress in Soccer Forwards
A study testing Motivational Self-Talk Training and Instructional Self-Talk Training in people with Psychological Self-talk Interventions in Soccer Performance, run by Beijing Sport University at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This study investigates the effects of different types of self-talk on performance and stress regulation in soccer forwards. Self-talk is a psychological technique in which athletes use specific verbal cues to guide their thoughts and actions during training and competition. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Psychological Self-talk Interventions in Soccer Performance
- What is being tested?
- Motivational Self-Talk Training and Instructional Self-Talk Training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 20 Jan 2025to 5 Apr 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male university football players aged 18-25 years
- Full-time university students regularly engaged in organized football training and competition
- At least two years of systematic football training experience
- In good general health at the time of enrollment
- No musculoskeletal injuries or medical conditions affecting football performance within the previous 6 months
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing
- Able to understand study procedures and complete soccer-specific performance and decision-making tasks
- Provided written informed consent prior to participation
Who cannot join
- History of neurological, psychiatric, or cognitive disorders that could influence decision-making or reaction time
- Current participation in structured psychological skills training programs (e.g., self-talk training, imagery, mindfulness training) outside routine football practice during the study period
- Use of medications or substances known to affect cognitive function
- Presence of any medical condition or injury contraindicating participation in football training or testing
- Failure to comply with the intervention protocol or outcome assessments
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: A Study on the Effects of Different Types of Self-Talk on Strikers in Soccer
This study investigates the effects of different types of self-talk on performance and stress regulation in soccer forwards. Self-talk is a psychological technique in which athletes use specific verbal cues to guide their thoughts and actions during training and competition. Two commonly used forms are motivational self-talk, which focuses on confidence and effort, and instructional self-talk, which focuses on technical and tactical cues.
Thirty-six male soccer forwards of different competitive levels participated in this study. Players were randomly assigned to a motivational self-talk group, an instructional self-talk group, or a control group. The intervention lasted six weeks. Before and after the intervention, participants completed assessments of soccer-specific technical skills, physical performance, and match tactical behavior. Psychological measures of self-efficacy and biological indicators of stress (salivary cortisol) were also collected.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether different self-talk strategies produce different effects depending on players' competitive level and task demands. The findings are expected to provide practical guidance for the use of psychological training strategies in soccer and other team sports.
- Being tested
- Motivational Self-Talk Training, Instructional Self-Talk Training, No Self-Talk (Usual Training Control)
- Keywords
- Self-talk, Soccer, Psychological intervention, Athletic performance, Stress regulation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Motivational Self-Talk TrainingBehavioural
Participants received structured motivational self-talk training aimed at enhancing confidence, effort, and persistence during soccer training and match-related tasks. Individualized motivational cue words and phrases were developed and practiced under guidance, and participants were instructed to apply these cues consistently throughout the six-week intervention period.
Instructional Self-Talk TrainingBehavioural
Participants were instructed to apply task-specific instructional self-talk cues to guide technical execution and tactical decision-making during soccer training over a six-week intervention period.
No Self-Talk (Usual Training Control)Behavioural
Participants in the control group continued their regular soccer training and match preparation without receiving any form of structured self-talk instruction. No motivational or instructional self-talk strategies were introduced during the intervention period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Motivational Self-Talk | Experimental | Participants in this group received a motivational self-talk intervention designed to enhance confidence, effort, and persistence during soccer training and competition. Receives: Behavioral: Motivational Self-Talk Training |
| Instructional Self-Talk | Experimental | Participants in this group received an instructional self-talk intervention focusing on technical execution and tactical decision-making during soccer activities. Receives: Behavioral: Instructional Self-Talk Training |
| Control | Experimental | Participants in the control group continued their regular soccer training without receiving any structured self-talk intervention. Receives: Behavioral: No Self-Talk (Usual Training Control) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Match-Based Technical and Tactical Performance
Match-based technical and tactical performance was assessed during regular soccer match play using standardized match analysis procedures. This outcome represents players' overall technical and tactical performance exhibited in a real match context over the intervention period.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Secondary outcomes (5)
Shooting Accuracy
Shooting accuracy was evaluated using a standardized soccer shooting test. Participants performed a series of shots toward predefined target zones within the goal. Shooting accuracy was calculated as the percentage of successful shots directed into the target areas, with higher percentages indicating better shooting performance.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Sport Self-Efficacy
Sport self-efficacy was assessed using the Sport Self-Efficacy Scale, a validated self-report questionnaire designed to measure individuals' perceived confidence in performing sport-related skills and tasks. The scale consists of multiple items rated on a Likert-type scale, yielding a total score ranging from 10 to 50, with higher scores reflecting greater perceived self-efficacy in sport performance contexts.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Dribbling Run Performance
Dribbling run performance was assessed using a standardized soccer dribbling run test. Participants completed the task while controlling the ball along a predefined running course, and performance was quantified as total completion time (seconds) recorded under standardized testing conditions.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Loughborough Soccer Passing Test Performance
Passing performance was assessed using the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT), a standardized and widely used soccer-specific passing assessment. Participants were required to complete a series of prescribed passing and ball-control actions according to the standardized test protocol. Performance was quantified as the total time (seconds) required to complete the test under controlled testing conditions.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Salivary Cortisol Concentration
Salivary cortisol concentration was assessed as an index of physiological stress response. Saliva samples were collected using standardized saliva collection procedures and cortisol levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods under controlled laboratory conditions.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Feb 2026
- Study start20 Jan 2025
- Primary completion7 Mar 2025
- Study completion5 Apr 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Psychological Self-talk Interventions in Soccer PerformanceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned to one of three parallel groups (motivational self-talk, instructional self-talk, or control) and received the assigned intervention concurrently throughout the intervention period.
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing Sport University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Yue Dou, Beijing Sport University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07382518
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025556H
- Acronym
- STF
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared due to participant confidentiality and institutional data protection policies.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Study on the Effects of Different Types of Self-Talk on Strikers in Soccer
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07382518
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STF / 2025556H
- Keywords
- Self-talk, Soccer, Psychological intervention, Athletic performance, Stress regulation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing Sport UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 7 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 5 Apr 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study investigates the effects of different types of self-talk on performance and stress regulation in soccer forwards. Self-talk is a psychological technique in which athletes use specific verbal cues to guide their thoughts and actions during training and competition. Two commonly used forms are motivational self-talk, which focuses on confidence and effort, and instructional self-talk, which focuses on technical and tactical cues.
Thirty-six male soccer forwards of different competitive levels participated in this study. Players were randomly assigned to a motivational self-talk group, an instructional self-talk group, or a control group. The intervention lasted six weeks. Before and after the intervention, participants completed assessments of soccer-specific technical skills, physical performance, and match tactical behavior. Psychological measures of self-efficacy and biological indicators of stress (salivary cortisol) were also collected.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether different self-talk strategies produce different effects depending on players' competitive level and task demands. The findings are expected to provide practical guidance for the use of psychological training strategies in soccer and other team sports.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned to one of three parallel groups (motivational self-talk, instructional self-talk, or control) and received the assigned intervention concurrently throughout the intervention period.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Motivational Self-Talk | Experimental | Behavioral: Motivational Self-Talk TrainingParticipants in this group received a motivational self-talk intervention designed to enhance confidence, effort, and persistence during soccer training and competition. |
| Instructional Self-Talk | Experimental | Behavioral: Instructional Self-Talk TrainingParticipants in this group received an instructional self-talk intervention focusing on technical execution and tactical decision-making during soccer activities. |
| Control | Experimental | Behavioral: No Self-Talk (Usual Training Control)Participants in the control group continued their regular soccer training without receiving any structured self-talk intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Male university football players aged 18-25 years
- Full-time university students regularly engaged in organized football training and competition
- At least two years of systematic football training experience
- In good general health at the time of enrollment
- No musculoskeletal injuries or medical conditions affecting football performance within the previous 6 months
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- History of neurological, psychiatric, or cognitive disorders that could influence decision-making or reaction time
- Current participation in structured psychological skills training programs (e.g., self-talk training, imagery, mindfulness training) outside routine football practice during the study period
- Use of medications or substances known to affect cognitive function
- Presence of any medical condition or injury contraindicating participation in football training or testing
- Failure to comply with the intervention protocol or outcome assessments
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Motivational Self-Talk TrainingParticipants received structured motivational self-talk training aimed at enhancing confidence, effort, and persistence during soccer training and match-related tasks. Individualized motivational cue words and phrases were developed and practiced under guidance, and participants were instructed to apply these cues consistently throughout the six-week intervention period. | Behavioural | Motivational Self-Talk |
| Instructional Self-Talk TrainingParticipants were instructed to apply task-specific instructional self-talk cues to guide technical execution and tactical decision-making during soccer training over a six-week intervention period. | Behavioural | Instructional Self-Talk |
| No Self-Talk (Usual Training Control)Participants in the control group continued their regular soccer training and match preparation without receiving any form of structured self-talk instruction. No motivational or instructional self-talk strategies were introduced during the intervention period. | Behavioural | Control |
Primary outcome
Match-Based Technical and Tactical Performance
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Match-based technical and tactical performance was assessed during regular soccer match play using standardized match analysis procedures. This outcome represents players' overall technical and tactical performance exhibited in a real match context over the intervention period.
5 secondary outcomes
Shooting Accuracy
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Sport Self-Efficacy
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Dribbling Run Performance
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Loughborough Soccer Passing Test Performance
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Salivary Cortisol Concentration
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared due to participant confidentiality and institutional data protection policies.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Motivational Self-Talk Training and Instructional Self-Talk Training in people with Psychological Self-talk Interventions in Soccer Performance, run by Beijing Sport University at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Match-Based Technical and Tactical Performance (time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Feb 2026.