Effectiveness of counseling sessions based on psychological stability integrated with relaxation exercises in regulating sleep for youth football players

Abstract

Football is among the team sports that require psychological preparation, so the players can be able to control their emotions and adapt their behave to the circumstances and their psychological state. In this context the psychological factor very important to determine the quality of performance on the field, it can even be the difference between success and failure for players with similar physical and skill levels. A lot of young football players suffer from sleep disorders because of the psychological pressures that come with training and competition, which affects negatively their physical and mental performance. even with the importance of sleep as un important factor in promoting recovery and improving athletic performance, few studies have addressed the impact of psychological interventions like stabilization exercises, on improving sleep quality in this age group. So, the importance of stabilization programs as an effective means of improving sleep quality and promoting emotional balance to the athletes. Psychological stabilization includes a set of training techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and breathing exercises, which have been proven to contribute to reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality. The research aims to prepare guidance sessions based on psychological stabilization combined with relaxation exercises in regulating sleep for young football players, and to identify the effect of guidance sessions based on psychological stabilization combined with relaxation exercises in regulating sleep for young football players. This study adopted the quasi-experimental design method as it is suitable for the nature of the research, where a psychological training program (psychological stabilization exercises) was applied to a group of young football players, with pre- and post-measurement of the level of sleep. The study sample included (20) young football players, aged between (14-16) years, who train regularly at the Police Sports Club. The sample was selected purposively (not randomly) to meet the study criteria. The results showed a significant increase in total sleep time after the application of the psychological training program, with an average of +30.47 minutes (Cohen's d = 3.37), indicating a very significant effect of the program. Studies point to that meditation and breathing exercises incentivize the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce excessive nervous activity, all of this makes it easier to fall asleep and increasing sleep duration. Depending on this, the researchers reached conclusions, including that the players showed improved sleep duration and the proportion of deep sleep stages, that supporting their physical and psychological recovery. the results give strength to the hypothesis that non-pharmacological psychological training can be a sustainable option for improving athletic performance by enhancing sleep. Other conclusions include adopting psychological stabilization training programs as part of the training plans for young athletes, especially during periods of increased competitive pressure, putting mindfulness techniques into training sessions, Couse of their direct impact on sleep, attention, and mental performance.