2013, Volume 5, Issue 1

Psychological Aspects of the Polish National Team Performance at EURO 2012 Tournament in the Opinion of Students from Sports- and Humanities-Oriented Universities

Daniel Krokosz¹, Magdalena Jochimek¹, Mariusz Lipowski<sup>2

1</sup>Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport in Gdansk
²Department of Health Psychology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport in Gdansk


Author for correspondence: Mariusz Lipowski; Department of Health Psychology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport in Gdansk; email: mariusz.lipowski[at]awf.gda.pl

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Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the perception of psychological preparation of Polish football players by the spectators possessing direct involvement with psychology and sports. Moreover, we tried to determine who was assigned the blame for the defeat.
Material/Methods: The study involved164 psychology students from University of Gdanskand 201 students from Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, aged between 19 and 32 years. The participants completed EURO 2012 survey in October 2012.
Results: The students of thesports-oriented universitywere more interested in football on a daily basis and showed greater interest inthe EURO 2012 tournament. Significant intergroup differences pertained to the responsibility scores of the coach, players, and the team of physicians, physiotherapists, and psychologists, as well as to the scores ascribed to various potential psychological determinants of the failure of the Polish Team during the competition. Among others, documented significant correlations included relationships betweenthe satisfaction gained from the tournament and the role of pressure exerted by spectators and media.
Conclusions: In the students’opinion EURO 2012 was a great commercial and promotional success, but also a huge disappointment with regards to the performance of the Polish National Team. Although our participants acknowledged psychological aspects as potential determinants of the lack of sport success, they did not perceive the role of a psychologist as importantduring preparation. This may suggest a necessity ofpromoting the need for cooperation between athletes and specialists of various disciplines

Key words: sport psychology, football, EURO 2012, sport spectators, determinants of failure