Key Psychological Competencies in Sport Coaching: A Study Using the Vienna Test System

Description

Introduction. In the demanding context of sport coaching, psychological abilities and cognitive skills play a critical role in performance, communication, and decision-making. Beyond physical expertise, coaches require high levels of concentration, emotional control, and cognitive flexibility to operate effectively under pressure. Identifying these competencies can enhance selection, training, and professional development in sports education. Aim. This study aimed to examine key psychological characteristics among sports professionals, using objective psychometric tool Vienna Test System (VTS). Methods and Materials. The sample consisted of 91 sports educators (including physical education teachers and coaches). Participants completed selected VTS batteries measuring: Exactitude, Impulsiveness vs. Reflexivity, Logical reasoning, Median reaction time under stress, General reaction speed and motor speed, Ability to concentrate. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine associations between these variables and demographic factors (age, gender, education). Results. Reflective individuals demonstrated significantly higher task precision (r=0.737, p<0.01) and better logical reasoning performance (r=0.247, p<0.05). Higher ability to concentrate was associated with both greater accuracy (r=0.285, p<0.01) and faster reactions under stress (r=-0.452, p <0.01). These results highlight the central role of reflectivity, concentration, and psychomotor efficiency in coaching-related performance. Conclusions. Key psychological competencies in sport coaching are interrelated and critical for performance. These findings suggest that psychological testing can inform evidence-based decisions in the selection and development of sport educators, helping to optimize their cognitive and behavioural readiness for high-stakes environments. This research was funded by the framework of the Plan of the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility and the State budget grant Nr. RSU/LSPA-PA-2024/1-0009.

Period	14 Jun 2025
Event title	International Congress of Education, Health and Human Movement: Trends and Challenges for Human Movement Sciences in AI Era
Event type	Congress
Conference number	15
Location	Bucharest, RomaniaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International