ABSTRACT
Self-confidence is one of the major predictors of performance in football. Collective efficacy is also paramount as high-performing teams show greater group-level confidence compared to lower-performing teams. In this chapter, we review the antecedent, moderator, and outcome variables that influence self-confidence and collective efficacy in football. The first part of the chapter is devoted to self-confidence. We discuss how confidence and self-efficacy beliefs influence athletes’ cognitive, affective, and behavioural states and patterns, and elaborate on the linkage between self-confidence and performance in penalty shootouts. In the second part of the chapter, we review the tenets of collective efficacy, as well as measurement guidelines on addressing confidence at the team level. We review empirical evidence on the linkage between self-confidence and collective efficacy and discuss differences in collective efficacy among high- and low-performing football teams. Furthermore, we present research findings suggesting that collective efficacy is dynamically related to myriad team processes, such as cohesion and team mental models. We conclude the chapter with future research recommendations and applied guidelines to enhance self-confidence and collective efficacy in football.
