Purpose: Scholars and consultants in the field of sport psychology are becoming increasingly interested in the role played by psychological skills for athletes’ performance. SFERA (Vercelli, 2005) model is a specific tool used for the optimisation of mental performance. It is a reference for CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) and it was developed by qualitative research. This study aimed to provide a first validation of SFERA Test, defined by 5 subscales: Synchrony, Force, Energy, Rhythm, Activation. Methods: A sample of 159 athletes has completed a self-report questionnaire. Data were analysed with SPSS 25 and Mplus7 to test the factorial validity of scale through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The reliability was calculated by examining the internal consistencies of each subscales. Results: EFA (total variance: 66.41%) and CFA [CHI2(240)=358.189; p < .001; RMSEA=.06 (.04, .07); CFI=.94 TLI=.93 SRMR=.06] have shown a 5-factor structure: synchrony (4 item, α=.83), force (6 item, α=.90), energy (3 item, α=.70), rhythm (5 item, α=.81), activation (6 item, α=.88). Limitations: The sample is not representative, this is only the first validation of tool, with further administration of questionnaire will carry out additional test. Practical implications: This tool could be easily used for coaching and training to monitor the level of psychological skills over time or before and after a specific mental training. Originality: This study could provide strong practical implication on psychology of sport, starting from the validation and development of a new tool to measure mental skills.
SFERA test: preliminary validation with an athletes’ sample
DOLCE Valentina;VERCELLI, GIUSEPPE;CORTESE Claudio Giovanni
2019-01-01
Abstract
Purpose: Scholars and consultants in the field of sport psychology are becoming increasingly interested in the role played by psychological skills for athletes’ performance. SFERA (Vercelli, 2005) model is a specific tool used for the optimisation of mental performance. It is a reference for CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) and it was developed by qualitative research. This study aimed to provide a first validation of SFERA Test, defined by 5 subscales: Synchrony, Force, Energy, Rhythm, Activation. Methods: A sample of 159 athletes has completed a self-report questionnaire. Data were analysed with SPSS 25 and Mplus7 to test the factorial validity of scale through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The reliability was calculated by examining the internal consistencies of each subscales. Results: EFA (total variance: 66.41%) and CFA [CHI2(240)=358.189; p < .001; RMSEA=.06 (.04, .07); CFI=.94 TLI=.93 SRMR=.06] have shown a 5-factor structure: synchrony (4 item, α=.83), force (6 item, α=.90), energy (3 item, α=.70), rhythm (5 item, α=.81), activation (6 item, α=.88). Limitations: The sample is not representative, this is only the first validation of tool, with further administration of questionnaire will carry out additional test. Practical implications: This tool could be easily used for coaching and training to monitor the level of psychological skills over time or before and after a specific mental training. Originality: This study could provide strong practical implication on psychology of sport, starting from the validation and development of a new tool to measure mental skills.
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