Time decentrations of junior athletes under changed conditions of competitive activity

The purpose of the research is to find and substantiate a correlation between time decentrations and self-regulation of junior athletes under changed conditions of competitive activity. Methods. The main methods of a summative strategy of the research with elements of comparison were two valid and reliable psycho-diagnostic instruments: an adapted version of the questionnaire “Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory” (Zimbardo & Gonzalez, 1984) and a modified version of the questionnaire “Style of Self-regulation of Behavior” (Morosanova, 2004). Objective observation and structured interviews with data recorded in specialized protocol forms were supplementary research methods. Standard coefficients were employed to identify statistically significant differences. Results: The concept of time decentrations was defined, emphasizing their significance in junior sports. Seventeen statistically significant correlations were established (p ≤ .050; p ≤ .010). Temporal decentralization future (TDF) and temporal decentralization positive past (TDPP) exhibited the highest number of correlations, with six each. The strongest positive correlation of TDF with “Planning Training Activity” (PTA) (rs = .311; p ≤ .010) was established. It was substantiated that the strongest correlation between the dimensions “Planning Training Activity” (rs = .311; p ≤ .010) with Temporal Decentralization Future in combination with the other two strong (p ≤ .010) correlations of the dimension “Independence of Decision-Making”: TDF (rs = .302) and TDPP (rs = .221) constitute an efficient self-regulation construct of achieving a victory result under changed conditions of competitive activity. Comparison of self-regulation parameters of respondents of an optimal profile (Group II) and a general profile (Group I) of time decentration was performed. Statistically significant differences (p ≤ .050; p ≤ .010) were found by three self-regulation parameters: “Planning Training Activity”, “Modelling Competitive Activity” and “Independence of Decision-Making”. Discussion and conclusions. The identified differences between time decentrations possess scientific novelty and are valuable for tactical-technical preparation of junior athletes. Operationalization of the obtained results can increase resourcefulness of junior athletes and create a competitive advantage over rivals under usual and changed conditions of competitive activity.