The social environment and developmental experiences in elite youth soccer

ObjectivesWe aimed to examine social-contextual correlates of players’ developmental experiences in an elite youth soccer context. Specifically, we hypothesized that player perceptions of team cohesion and coach rapport would be positively associated with psychological need fulfillment. In turn, psychological need satisfaction was proposed to be positively related to adaptive developmental experiences in youth soccer (i.e., opportunities for leadership, emotional regulation, and goal setting), and negatively related to social exclusion.DesignCross-sectional.Method133 male elite soccer players, aged between 11 and 18 years old, completed a self-report questionnaire assessing the variables of interest.ResultsUsing path analysis and bootstrapping methods, we found support for the overall model fit of the hypothesized conceptual framework and specific study hypotheses.ConclusionsThis study utilizes strong theoretical foundations to underscore the role of the coach and team environment in facilitating positive youth outcomes, and highlights a potential mechanism that may explain these processes.

► Coach rapport and task cohesion were related positively associated with soccer players’ psychological need fulfillment.
► Players’ psychological need satisfaction was associated with their developmental experiences in soccer academies.
► The effects of the socio-environmental factors on developmental experiences were indirect via psychological need satisfaction.