Effect of Verbal Encouragement and Performance Feedback on Running Distance in Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Tests

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of performance feedback (PF) and verbal encouragement (VE) on the running distances of amateur football players in Yo-Yo intermittent recovery tests (Yo-Yo IR 1 and 2). For this purpose, thirty-four young amateur football players voluntarily participated in the study and the participants were divided into two different groups, AT1 (n=17) and AT2 (n=17), using a random method. The running distance of the participants in IR1 and IR2 tests was tested on three different non-consecutive days without any external stimulus (NES) and using external motivation stimuli (VE and PF). Each measurement protocol was applied 72 hours apart to eliminate the effect of fatigue between measurements. In the analysis of the data, the suitability of the variables to normal distribution was examined using visual and analytical methods. The effects of different conditions (NES, VE and PF) on two different test protocols (IR1 and IR2) were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Homogeneity of variances was examined with Mauchly's sphericity test, and when the assumption was not met, the Greenhouse-Geisser correction was applied. Multiple comparison analyses were applied using the Bonferroni, when statistically significant differences were detected between the conditions. According to the analysis results, the running distance obtained after PF was significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to VE and NES in the IR1 test. In the IR2 test, although there was no statistically significant difference between the running distances obtained after PF and VE, when compared to NES, the average running distances obtained after PF and VE were significantly higher (p<0.05). As a result, it can be suggested that coaches and strength and conditioning professionals could strategically implement external motivational interventions during training and testing sessions to increase athletes’ effort levels and improve performance outcomes.