The Types, Sources and Debilitating Factors of Sport Confidence in Elite Academy Soccer Players

Abstract

In this study, a qualitative approach was employed to explore the confidence needs of 16 elite junior academy soccer players. Pre-interview booklets and semistructured interviews were used to identify the salient types and sources of sportconfidence, and any confidence debilitating factors unique to elite junior athletes. Eight sources of confidence were identified: performance accomplishment, social support, preparation, team factors, vicarious experiences, experience, innate factors and trust. In accordance with the multi-dimensional nature of sport-confidence, five types of confidence also emerged: skill execution, physical factors, psychological factors, achievement and superiority to opposition. Additionally, the elite academy players identified five factors responsible for debilitating confidence: poor performance factors, lack of social support, failure to handle pressure and expectation, poor preparation and injury and illness. The results and the practical implications were considered in relation to the context of previous sport-confidence literature.