The relationship between the flow state and physical, Technical Performance among Professional Soccer Players in Palestine

The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of flow state and physical, technical performance among professional soccer players in Palestine and to determine the relationship between the flow state and physical, technical performance. Furthermore, to determine the differences in the flow state level and physical, technical performance among professional soccer players in Palestine according to playing position and experience variables. To achieve that the study was conducted on (75) players from professional clubs of soccer in Palestine, and to measure the flow state , the scale of Ratib, Masri and sayyed (2004) was used ,and to determine the physical, and technical performance, a lot of tests were applied. To answer the questions of the study, the researcher used means, percentages, standard deviation, person correlation, one way ANOVA and Scheffes pos-hoc test. The study revealed the following results: - The flow state level among professional soccer players in Palestine was high in all domains (self-confidence, attention focus, facing concern, enjoyment, sense of control, performance technique) where the percentages of response were more than (70%), and the total level of the flow state was high and it reached to (79.60%). The highest domain was enjoyment domain ( 85.33%) and the lowest one was attention domain (75%). - The mean value of physical fitness tests among professional soccer players in Palestine for: (50-m sprint, long jump from stable position, zigzag running, flexibility, sit-ups, touch two parallel lines in a minute and Cooper test ) were respectively : (6.72 second, 2.31 meter, 22.77 second, 40.74 centimeter, 30.46 times, 33.32 times and 3080 meter). - The mean value of technical tests among professional soccer players in Palestine for ( control the ball, zigzag run with the ball, kicking the ball to specific target, kicking the ball by head to score, exciting the throwing for the farthest distance, punctual long passing, kick the ball for farthest distance) were respectively : (36.45 meter, 16.12 second, 2.56 times, 39.86 centimeter , 33.99 meter, 6.08 meter and 54.03 meter ) . - There is a positive significant relationship between the flow state and physical tests (50 m sprint, long jump, zigzag run, sit-ups 30 second, touch two parallel lines in a minute), but there was no significant relationship between the flow state and ( flexibility and Cooper test ). - There is a positive significant relationship between the flow state and technical tests (control the ball, zigzag run with the ball, kicking the ball to specific target, exciting the throwing for the farthest distance, kick the ball for farthest distance), but there was no significant relationship between the flow state and (kicking the ball by head to score and punctual long passing). - There are no significant differences at (= 0.05 ) in the flow state among professional soccer players in Palestine in the domains of: (self-confidence, attention focus, facing concern, enjoying, performance technique ) and total score of the flow state according to playing position, but the differences were significant in the domain of facing concern according to the playing position in favor to defenders. - There are no significant differences at (= 0.05 ) in the flow state among professional soccer players in Palestine in the domains of: (self-confidence, attention focus, facing concern, enjoying, control, performance technique) and total score of the flow state according to the experience, but the differences were significant in the domain of attention focus according to the experience in favor to long experience . - There are no significant differences at (= 0.05) in (50-m sprint, long jump, zigzag run, sit-ups in 30 second, touch two parallel lines in a minute) among professional soccer players in Palestine according to the plying position, but the differences were significant in the test of (zigzag run) according to the playing position in favor to attacker players. - There are no significant differences at (= 0.05 ) in (long jump from stable position, zigzag running, flexibility, sit-ups, touch two parallel lines in a minute and Cooper test) among professional soccer players in Palestine according to experience, but the differences were significant in the test of (50-m sprint) according to the experience in favor to the players who have long experience. - There are no significant differences at (= 0.05) in (control the ball, zigzag run with the ball, kicking the ball to specific target, exciting the throwing for the farthest distance, kick the ball for farthest distance) among professional soccer players in Palestine according to the playing position, but the differences were significant in (kick the ball for farthest distance) according to the playing position in favor to middle and attackers. - There are no significant differences at (= 0.05) in (control the ball, zigzag run with the ball, kicking the ball to specific target, exciting the throwing for the farthest distance, kick the ball for farthest distance) among professional soccer players in Palestine according to the experience, but the differences were significant in (zigzagging run with the ball and exciting the throwing for the farthest distance) according to the experience in favor to the players of long experience. Based on the findings of the study the researcher recommended the following: - The coaches must develop the physical, psychological, skillful sides that can improve the level of football players in Palestine to reach for high sport levels. - Focus on the psychological preparation of short – long period for football players that may help them to get champions, especially when there is a similarity in the physical, skillful, planning characteristics between teams; the psychological factor becomes the one to identify the result of the matches . Key words: Flow state , Physical, Technical Performance, Professional Soccer Players , Palestine.