Social psychological implication factors on the performance of elite hockey players of Pakistan

The current study is a pioneer research aiming to examine the influence of hockey coaches, team cohesion and motivational intensity on the performance of national field hockey players of Pakistan. The design is quantitative research approach using survey methodology. This study employed two methods of data collection. The survey data was collected from 296 purposively selected samples of national field hockey players from various cities across Pakistan. The survey data was analyzed using correlations, multiple regressions, and path analysis. Field performance tests were measured of the same 296 respondents utilizing descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that hockey coaches, team cohesion, and motivational intensity significantly predicted the variance in performance of field hockey players. Furthermore, the path analysis results indicated that team cohesion and motivational intensity did not influence the relationship between hockey coaches and performance of field hockey players in path model. The results of the field performance tests showed that national field hockey players of Pakistan were weak in overall game skills. The findings also revealed that all variables of hockey coaches, team cohesion, and motivational intensity established positive significant relationships with the performance of field hockey players. Hockey coaches, team cohesion and motivational intensity have positive low effect on field hockey players’ performance. The implication of study suggest that the management/authorities should develop the coaching structure, cohesiveness among players, and their motivational insights to uplift the standard of national sport of Pakistan in which is on the decline at present.