Exploring How Soccer Players With Perfectionism Navigate Challenges in Talent Pathways

Area of Science:

• Sports Psychology
• Adolescent Development
• Talent Identification in Soccer

Background:

• Perfectionism is a prevalent trait among elite athletes.
• Understanding its impact on adolescent athletes in talent pathways is crucial for support.
• Previous research has not fully explored the qualitative experiences of perfectionistic soccer players.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively explore how soccer players with perfectionism navigate challenges within talent pathways.
• To identify the specific psychological experiences and barriers faced by these athletes.
• To understand the perceived impact of perfectionism on performance and well-being.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 18 adolescent soccer players (10 female, 8 male) from talent pathways.
• Participants reported higher levels of perfectionism and perfectionistic cognitions.
• Semistructured one-to-one interviews were analyzed using semantic thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Seven themes emerged: anxiety cycles, sadness when substituted, self-criticism during slumps, rumination on mistakes, worthlessness when injured, shame in success, and intolerance of defeat.
• Players experienced heightened anxiety, particularly when substituted, and responded to setbacks with self-criticism.
• Post-match rumination occurred over both success and defeat, leading to significant psychological distress for some.

Conclusions:

• Perfectionism acts as a significant barrier for aspiring soccer players in talent pathways.
• These players perceive perfectionism as hindering their ability to overcome performance and personal challenges.
• The findings underscore the negative impact of perfectionism on both athletic performance and psychological well-being in young soccer players.