The role of the coach–athlete relationship and mental toughness in football player performance

Psychological factors have attracted growing interest in sporting and academic contexts, given their importance in helping athletes achieve their sporting potential. This study examined the link between the coach-athlete relationship (CAR) and individual physical performance, as well as the connection between mental toughness (MT) and individual physical performance of football players. The evaluation involved 20 male athletes over the age of 16, who completed two questionnaires and played three small-sided games (GK + 4 × 4+GK) with contextual manipulation. It has been hypothesised that 1) the CAR is connected with performance when verbal feedback is provided, and 2) MT may be related to a lower impact of physical fatigue on performance. The results corroborated the initial hypotheses, indicating a significant association between the CAR and accelerations/decelerations, sprint distance, total distance covered and RPE, when the coach’s intervention in the task is included. Similarly, a statistically significant correlation of MT was found with the same performance indicators, under conditions of physical fatigue. This study broadens the range of research conducted in the field of sports psychology, while establishing a close connection with the practical context of training. Future research is recommended to uncover the joint influence of these two psychological constructs on objective sports performance.