The Effects of Psychological Training on Performance in Esports

The application of sport psychology to esports is a growing field of interest (Pedraza-Ramirez et al., 2020). Psychological training may enhance the experience and performance of professional esports athletes (Pedraza-Ramirez, 2019). This study aims to provide preliminary results on the outcomes of a mental training protocol based on the S.F.E.R.A. model (Vercelli, 2009), a theoretical and practical framework that has been successfully adopted by elite athletes in various traditional sports for years. Recently, this model has been adapted to the esports context (e.g., the e-S.F.E.R.A. questionnaire; Caputo et al., 2023). A video-based training protocol was developed, comprising two videos for each of the five S.F.E.R.A. components: Synchrony, Strengths, Energy, Rhythm, and Activation. Each video includes an explanation of the psychological construct, along with both written and practical exercises designed to facilitate reflection and skill development, with the goal of enhancing performance. In the study, participants in the experimental group engage with the training program over approximately two weeks, completing the e-S.F.E.R.A. questionnaire at three time points: baseline, after the first training session, and after the second. The control group completes the questionnaire during the same time period without training. The sample consists of professional esports players who train daily and compete in officially recognized esports tournaments in Italy. Data collection is currently in its final stages. This contribution aims to present the results of the study by comparing the experimental and control groups on both S.F.E.R.A. mental factors and other psychological (e.g., flow) and performance-related variables. It is expected to observe higher performance-related scores in the experimental group, as well as a more consistent development of psychological awareness compared to the control group. This research aims to highlight the relevance of sport psychology in the professional esports context and to underscore the valuable role of sport psychologists as integral members of the teams supporting elite esports athletes.