Résumé:
The study aims to investigate the impact of the proposed training program on the development of certain cognitive skills (mental imagery, attentional focus) in reducing psychological stress levels among football players in Algeria. As for the research methods, an experimental method has been adopted for its suites the study the most, relying on the experimental design of two equivalent groups - experimental and control - through pre-test and post-test measurements for both groups. The research population consisted of U18 junior players from clubs competing in the second division of the West and Central professional league in Algeria for the sports season (2022-2023). The total number of clubs was 12, with an average of 25 registered players per team, making the research population 300 players. The research sample included 24 junior football players (U18) from Ghali Mascara team, which is considered the main sample, while the survey sample comprised 15 players from Sarie Gelizen team. After the proposed training program was evaluated by specialists and experts in the field of sports psychology, where their opinions and suggestions were taken into account, and after verifying the validity, reliability, and objectivity of the measures and psychological tests used in the research, appropriate statistical analysis was applied to determine the significance of the pre-test and post-test differences for both the experimental and control groups. Subsequently, the results were presented, analyzed, and discussed, leading to the confirmation of the hypotheses proposed at the beginning of the study. This enabled the researcher to draw several conclusions as follows: 1. There were no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of pre-test and post-test measures in mental imagery and attentional focus levels among individuals in the control group. 2. There were no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of pre-test and post-test measures in psychological stress levels among individuals in the control group. 3. Statistically significant differences existed between the mean scores of pre-test and post-test measures in mental imagery and attentional focus levels among individuals in the experimental group. 4. Statistically significant differences existed between the mean scores of pre-test and post-test measures in psychological stress levels among individuals in the experimental group. 5. Statistically significant differences existed between the mean scores of the experimental group and the control group in the post-test measurement of mental imagery and attentional focus levels. 6. Statistically significant differences existed between the mean scores of the experimental group and the control group in the post-test measurement of psychological stress levels. 7. The proposed mental training program, enhanced by the development of skills in mental imagery and attention concentration, had an impact on reducing the psychological stress of football players.
