Self-Esteem and its Relationship to Penalty Kick Accuracy among Young Football Players

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the relationship between self-esteem and penalty kick accuracy among young football players and to determine the nature of this relationship. The researcher adopted a descriptive correlational approach, as it was suitable for the nature of the study. The research sample consisted of (15) players selected purposively. To collect data, the researcher used the Morris-Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (adapted and standardized by Al-Kashif, 2004), which consists of 10 items, and a field shooting test on a goal divided into five numerical zones (from 1 to 5 points), with each player having 5 attempts. The data were statistically analyzed by calculating means, standard deviations, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The results showed a strong and statistically significant positive correlation between self-esteem and shooting accuracy in football. The calculated r-value was 0.96, which is greater than the critical value of 0.514 at a significance level of 0.05 and 13 degrees of freedom. Based on these results, the researcher concluded that positive psychological traits and a positive self-assessment directly contribute to reducing hesitation and motor tension, thus increasing shooting accuracy. The study recommended the inclusion of psychological preparation programs and self-confidence-boosting training as an integral part of physical and skill-based training for all categories of players.