An ideographic approach to the sources and types of confidence in elite and non-elite Netball players

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to use an ideographic measurement to investigate sources and types of confidence salient to elite and non-elite netballers. Fifteen athletes' (seven elite and eight non-elite) completed confidence profiles, an ideographic applied instrument designed to assess sport confidence from an athletes' perspective and five athletes' were interviewed for an in-depth and accurate account of the athletes' confidence. The athletes' in this study identified seven sources: preparation, performance accomplishments, coaching, social support, innate factors, experience and trust. Performance accomplishments emerged as a source of confidence to only the elite athletes. Skill execution, achievement, physical and psychological factors emerged as the four types of confidence. The findings suggest elite athletes' derive their confidence from more sources and are confident about more aspects. The confidence profiles support Hays et al. (2009) study that this measurement can be used by any athlete regardless of demographics and organisational factors and can provide a basis for which interventions can be developed. Coaches and sports psychologists designing interventions to enhance an athletes' confidence should take into account the specific need of the individual. Further research is required for a larger sample size. Also, future research is needed in individual differences such as a variety of sports and people from difference cultural backgrounds using confidence profiling as an assessment.