The responses from the football players to the question of how not playing affected them have been examined
under three sub-themes: “mental effects,” “effects on physical performance,” and “effects on life outside the field.”
In the sub-theme of mental effects, expressions used by the players during the interviews were coded using terms
such as low self-confidence, low motivation, and self-questioning. It was observed that players who were unable to
play were particularly affected negatively in terms of mental health. Even though they tried to do their best in training,
they felt demoralised when they saw that they were not included in the squad or not starting. This led them to question the decision and themselves, ultimately negatively impacting their self-confidence. The following quotes support
this view: