Psychology in German football has come under fire recently, but those working on the field are feeling more positive.
Regardless of who won, lost, or even played, the major stories in German football often revolve around kopfusach (literally translated as “matter of mind”).
Approximately 5% of athletes in elite sports suffer from depression, which is about the same as the general population. After the tragic death of Robert Encke in 2009, German football has already become very aware of mental illnesses such as depression, but what is the current status of Germany’s sports psychology system? ?
Rene Paasch, one of Germany’s most prominent sports psychologists, said in September that the role required a “paradigm shift” as “outdated thought patterns and approaches” left little room for innovation. suggested that. But many others in the field say otherwise.
Johanna Belz, a sports psychologist at Germany’s most prestigious sports university in Cologne, speaks positively of her time working at the Cologne Football Academy and comments on the club’s comprehensive approach to sports psychology. did.
“My experience was a very open academy that did more than the bare minimum,” Belz told DW. “But, of course, that’s not possible in an academy where one sports psychologist is in charge of 10 teams. Some people need to look at themselves in the mirror, but we need to praise the academy for going beyond that. There’s also.”
advances in mental health
Some feel that the perspective expressed by Paasch does not reflect current reality.
Christoph Hell, Psychology Coordinator at the German Football Federation (DFB), said: “Another problem with sports psychology in German football is that at the moment there is still a fixed and conservative image of the work of psychology in a high performance context.” That’s what remains.” D.W.
“That’s why it’s so important how we promote the work we trust. It’s not about always speaking up, it’s about listening more to our established and experienced colleagues in football.” is”
“And I sometimes wish we could see less bombast and more collegial and ethical behavior. Then the image of sports psychology would not be so distorted.”
Another thing that is often forgotten is that it has only been five years since the DFB made sports psychologists compulsory in academies, and that period also included a global pandemic. With that in mind, progress is certain, and Herr said he is now increasingly hearing academy heads talking about sports psychology with broader concepts behind the words.
Naturally, some old-fashioned approaches remain, but Hell believes that one of the best things German football sports psychology can do now is to become more involved with the decision-makers in the game. believe.
“We don’t have the one true truth and would rather have a dialogue with coaches and decision-makers.” [through training and further education]. Involving sports psychologists and psychological expertise into football systems is fundamental to the healthy development of youth. There is a need to promote increased awareness of this in the continued development of sport psychology. Some clubs are supplementing this topic by adding modern coach developers. ”
Growing demand for sports psychology
The field has long evolved beyond the firefighter role, but German academies are not yet ready to meet that demand, often due to cost and lack of knowledge.
Timo Heinze is one of Leverkusen’s two academy sports psychologists and has worked with some of Germany’s best young players. For Heinze, a former player himself, change hasn’t been rapid, but it’s definitely happening.
“Compared to many specialties in football, we are still at a relatively early stage,” Heinze told DW. “However, the quantity and quality of sports psychology is improving season by season and I am confident that this trend will continue in the future. The need exists and is recognized by clubs and managers. Compared to disciplines, soccer performance such as technique, tactics, athleticism, and mental skills certainly offer the greatest potential for growth.
“In the end, it’s about the players. It’s about creating a space where their mental health is protected in the best possible way, despite the tough business of football. In a sense, it’s about different areas of life. The goal is to bring players closer to individual solutions.” And, of course, the aim is to show how to improve performance through mental strategies. ”
Investment, expansion, specialization
As highlighted by Johanna Belz, it is absolutely necessary to employ more sports psychologists, especially in women’s youth football, given the need for more psychological preparedness. However, changes in the environment are also necessary to increase psychological safety.
“Why do people often have to deal with hundreds of problems when they can actually focus on the essential problem by improving their environment?” asked Herr.
Another suggested improvement is educational reform, and Belz felt that the 100 hours of classes required to complete the course gave her plenty of opportunities to learn more than just theory. However, she realized her own incompetence at the end of her qualification and completed a course aimed at learning conversational techniques in order to feel more competent in her job.
However, the German Football Federation seems to have recognized some of these gaps and, in recognition of the unique demands of football, has firstly offered a special six-month course for sports psychologists working in football. And secondly, we are introducing six regional hubs so that sports psychologists from different academies can meet and exchange ideas.
Sports psychology in German football has made progress in the short period since it became compulsory, but like any constantly evolving field, the biggest challenge now is to catch up. If that is possible, there is good reason to believe that a more multidimensional and holistic approach is possible.