Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1
Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2
Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
3
Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Department of Motor Behavior and Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Arak, Arak, Iran.
10.22059/jomc.2026.414560.1009006
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the role of professional football coaches' emotional-cognitive self-regulation in shaping psychological leadership and team performance culture within the context of Iranian professional football.
Method: This study employed a qualitative approach using Strauss and Corbin's systematic grounded theory approach. Participants included 16 players, assistant coaches, club managers, translators, and technical staff members who had sustained experience working with influential foreign coaches in Iranian professional football. They were selected through purposive and theoretical sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed concurrently using open, axial, and selective coding. To ensure data credibility and trustworthiness, the interview questions were reviewed by experts in qualitative research, and the quality of the study was evaluated based on Lincoln and Guba's trustworthiness criteria as well as established quality criteria for grounded theory research.
Results: The findings indicated that the coach's emotional-cognitive self-regulation comprised four main dimensions: emotional-cognitive awareness of the team's psychological state, emotion regulation and maintenance of composure, independence of judgment and resistance to pressure, and patience throughout the processes of training and change.
Conclusions: The coach's emotional-cognitive self-regulation, beyond individual emotion control, serves as a fundamental leadership mechanism for regulating the team's psychological climate. By strengthening psychological safety, trust, and collective resilience, it shapes a professional performance culture and provides the foundation for the effectiveness of other coaching competencies. These findings highlight the importance of developing emotional-cognitive self-regulation and emotion-regulation skills in football coach development programs.
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