Emotional competencies training for tennis players: effectiveness of an online individualised psychological support program

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of online emotional competencies (EC) training, and more specifically the relationships between adherence, confidence, and alliance and the effects of mental training on EC. A longitudinal four-wave measurement design (pre-intervention, post-knowledge development, post-abilities development, and post-disposition phase) was used in the present study. An experimental group (n = 20) received a specific EC training intervention, whereas the control group (n = 20) did not receive this intervention program. These two groups completed self-report questionnaires assessing emotional regulation and EC across four measurement times. Participants of the intervention group also completed a questionnaire measuring the adherence, confidence, alliance between practitioner and athlete. Results of repeated measure ANOVAs showed that the level of EC increased significantly in the intervention group but not in the control group. Moreover, correlation analyses highlighted significant relationships between the scores of adherence, confidence, alliance between the practitioner and the tennis player, and the scores difference of EC between before and after intervention. These outcomes suggest the possibility of improving EC with an online intervention. The online device did not affect the quality of the alliance between the practitioner and the intervention participant. Furthermore, the results showed that a high level of alliance, confidence, and adherence was associated with an improvement in emotional intelligence. This online program would serve psychologists and mental trainers to use an intervention to develop EC adapted to the constraints of the localisation of athletes.