Implementing a pressure training program to improve decision-making and execution of skill among premier league academy soccer players

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, available online at: https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2020.1868618 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.The present study evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention intended to improve academy players’ performance under pressure. Male academy soccer players (n = 82; mean age = 14.12 years, SD = 2.28) completed a baseline pressure task producing performance scores (A) for decision making and skill execution. By completing a pressure task, players received pressure training (PT) (Wood & Wilson, 2012). Players were then randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 41; receiving PT, three cognitive behavior workshops, and reflective diaries) or comparison group (n = 41; receiving PT only). Sixty-eight players (n = 29; intervention group; n = 39; comparison group) repeated the PT task at a six-week follow up (B), and of these, 26 (n = 15; intervention group; n = 11; PT only) also completed a re-test PT task (A) at 12-week follow up. Due to attrition at follow up, chi-square analysis was conducted across experimental groups A-B only. Analysis indicated intervention players scored significantly higher in their decision-making (p = .028) with a significant main effect of age-group on decision-making (p = .003) and skill execution (p = .005). Four players (highest scoring and lowest scoring player within intervention and comparison groups) from each academy age-group (n = 16) took part in individual interviews to explore intervention effectiveness. Thematic analysis found that some players perceived no benefits of the condition they completed, others perceived benefits to confidence, meta-cognitive skills, and challenge appraisals. Methodological implications for future pressure training interventions are presented

The effect of pediatric colorectal short-term medical service trips on self-reported confidence in patient care in volunteers in the home country

© 2020 The Author(s). Introduction: Short-term international medical service trips (MST) are established means to access ­specialized medical aid in resource-limited areas. The field of pediatric colorectal surgery is a subspecialty in pediatric surgery that mainly treats anorectal malformations (ARM) and Hirschsprung disease (HD). This study aimed to investigate the impact of MST on the donors’ perception of competency concomitantly to the impact on patients in the donors’ home country. We also wanted to investigate whether the donors’ pre-existing experience in the field of ARM and HD affects the experience they gain during the MST, and the subjective perception in treating patients in their base country. Methods: We created a questionnaire for the international medical staff participating in MSTs on the unique topic of pediatric colorectal diseases. The questionnaire was split into three parts: essential ­experience (1) in the field of colorectal surgery of the participant, the experience and impact on patient care in the home country during and after the MST in ARM (2), and in HD (3). Results: We collected data from 20 participants (6 female, 14 male). The majority of them had prior ­experience with the MST program (75%) and came from institutions specialized in the treatment of pediatric colorectal disorders (80%). Participants felt that MST improved patient care in both the host country (p \u3c 0.001) and their home country (p \u3c 0.001). Experienced and less experienced participants did not differ in the overall MST evaluation (ps \u3e 0.08). They reported that their competencies to treat ARM and HD improved significantly in response to the MST (ps \u3c 0.001). Improvements in ARM and HD ­treatment were associated with the number of supervised HD surgeries during MST, while the other forms of participation were unrelated to the improvements. Conclusion: The results of our questionnaire indicate that participation in MST in the specialized field of pediatric colorectal surgery helps to improve confidence in the care and treatment of affected patients in both the host and donor countries, independent of previous surgical experience