Topics and Cognitive Reasons in Disposition to Change among Grassroot Football Agents after participating in the Psytool Program

Abstract

This study analyses the intentions to change of the Change Agents (AoC) recruited by the different partners of the European project Erasmus + Psytool. The project has theoretical frames on positive training, psychological well-being and the promotion of enjoyment and fair play. It consists of ten lessons that extend over six weeks, whose topics range from doping to preventing the acceptance of cheating and deception. The intentions to change is framed within the Transtheoretical Model of internal change with different phases of change, from contemplation, preparation, to behavioural change and its maintenance. For this, 63 change agents were analysed (Mage = 32.39, SD = 9.02), with an average experience of 9.02 years (SD = 7.68) through an adaptation of the Disposition of Change Questionnaire (DCQ), administered once the psychoeducational program was finished. The data were analysed descriptively and through Content Analysis. The results show a high value of the DCQ factors: Disposition to change, Reasons for Change and Change Behaviours. Qualitatively, the AoC showed cognitive changes (n = 83), mainly in the face of Discrimination, Violence, Fair Play and Personal Growth, and metacognitive changes (n = 12), while four Agents of Change declared they did not need to change. Metacognitively, we observed some reflections such as the increase of attention or the prevention of behaviors, evidencing the awareness of this type of problems and the analysis of information about them, assigning the mental resources to solve them. Finally, the changes were divided into those aimed at the promotion of prosocial behaviours and those aimed at the prevention of antisocial behaviour.