OPERATIONALIZATION OF FOOTBALLERS’ EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE DIMENSIONS OF MOTIVATIONAL ORIENTATION: ANALYSIS BASED ON THE BASIC POSITIONS

Abstract

The purpose is to conduct empirical research on the correlation of emotional intelligence with footballers’ motivational orientation by functional realization (the basic position). The study identifies differences in the parameters of footballers’ emotional intelligence by the basic position. The research involved 74 footballers representing such football clubs: FC “Krystal” (Kherson, Ukraine), FC “Chliba Khersonshchyny” (Kherson, Ukraine), FC “Enerhiia” (Nova Kakhovka, Ukraine), FC “Mykolaiv” (Mykolaiv, Ukraine). Research methods: valid and reliable psycho-diagnostic instruments – the method “EQ questionnaire” (Hall, 2000) and questionnaire “Athlete’s Motivational Orientation” (“AMO”) (Smoldovskaya, 2022); purposeful non-participant observation with standard protocols; statistical methods for identifying significant differences. Results. The study established empirically and substantiated that functional realization (the basic position) in footballers’ competition activities correlates with motivational orientation and sufficiently developed emotional intelligence. The integral index of emotional intelligence (IIEQ) of strikers (Me=38.0) and midfielders (Me=38.0) is characterized by a high level and obvious motivational orientation towards a high result. The study shows that a high level of development of footballers’ ability to manage their emotions and self-motivation corresponds to a high level of involvement in the activity performed and aspiration for team cohesion, for a synergetic contact with spectators. Four strongest (р<.010) significant correlations of self-motivation with subject-directed (rs=.289), result-directed (rs=.344) and personally-directed motivational orientation (rs=.244) and empathy with socially-directed motivational orientation (rs=.267) were established. Conclusions. The study substantiates that focusing on the development of footballers’ emotional intelligence, in particular, of such parameters as selfmotivation and empathy can give an essential advantage over competitors. It shows that the obtained scientific facts constitute a number of operational elements which should be taken into consideration by coaches in team sports.