Types, Sources, and Debilitating Factors of Sport-Confidence in Elite Early Adolescent Academy Soccer Players

Abstract

This study provided an original contribution to the literature by examining elite early adolescent academy soccer players sport-confidence needs. Pre-interview booklets and individual semi-structured interviews were used as multiple sources of qualitative data to identify the types, sources, and debilitating factors of sport-confidence in a large sample (n = 28) of players within the youth development phase of the Elite Player Performance Plan (The Premier League, 2011). An abductive approach to hierarchical content analysis found three types of sport-confidence: Skill execution, physical factors, and psychological factors. These types were generated from five sources of sport-confidence: Accomplishments, social support, preparation, vicarious experience, and innate factors. Five confidence debilitating factors: Lack of social support, poor performances, poor preparation, pressure and expectations, and injury/illness were also identified. Practitioners are advised to widen the sport-confidence types experienced by elite adolescent performers and broaden the sources of sport-confidence such performers use to gain belief. This study examined elite academy soccer players sport-confidence. Players were confident about: Skill execution, physical and psychological factors. Players gained confidence from: Accomplishments, social support, preparation, vicarious experience, and innate factors. Players confidence was reduced by: A lack of social support, poor performances, poor preparation, pressure and expectations, and injury/illness