The Influence of Coaches' Commands on the Emotional States and Concentration Levels of Male Basketball Players in Critical Situations

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the influence of coaches’ vocal command characteristics on the emotional states and concentration levels of male basketball players during critical situations. The sample consisted of 35 male basketball players who participated in operational competition testing. Data were collected using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed using percentage frequency weights.  The findings revealed that in high-pressure situations requiring precision, such as free-throw shooting, a "calm and steady voice" was highly effective, with 34.3% of the participants reporting that it increased their focus to the highest level, and 25.7% to a high level. Conversely, negative vocal traits such as "reverberating shouting" and "rapid-paced commands during timeouts" induced panic and confusion, ranging from moderate to the highest levels. Furthermore, a commanding voice with "firm power" and the use of "clear, short cues" (e.g., "Squeeze," "Drive") significantly boosted players' confidence and reduced decision-making hesitation, with positive response rates exceeding 50%. These results indicate that basketball coaches must systematically manage psycholinguistic and sports psychology elements in their communication to optimize player performance under intense pressure