Abstract
Background:
Self-determined motivation (SDM) and sport psychological coping skills are important for developing footballers. This study examined relationships between chronological age (CA), skeletal age (SA), and psychological variables among South African youth players.
Materials and Methods:
Data were collected from 109 male players across three football academies (mean CA: 14.8 ± 2.4 years, mean SA: 14.2 ± 2.1 years). Participants completed the Sport Motivation Scale-II (SMS-II) and the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28).
Results: Amotivation, external, and introjected regulations differed significantly across CA groups, negatively affecting the Relative Autonomy Index (RAI). SDM, as reflected by the RAI, declined with CA, reaching its lowest point at 15–17 years. SA grouping revealed significant differences for amotivation and external regulation. Coachability differed across CA and SA groups. Amotivation, external regulation, and coachability showed positive correlations with CA, while amotivation and coachability correlated positively with SA. Concentration showed opposite correlations with CA and SA when controlling for the other variable.
Discussion and Conclusion:
CA grouping better captured differences in SDM than SA. The decline in SDM during mid-adolescence seemingly reflects maturation-related developmental challenges . Psychological characteristics in youth football players are influenced by complex interactions beyond age. Future research should employ longitudinal designs with diverse samples to better understand psychological skills development. Further validation of these measures is needed to ensure their usefulness in the South African context.
Self-determined motivation (SDM) and sport psychological coping skills are important for developing footballers. This study examined relationships between chronological age (CA), skeletal age (SA), and psychological variables among South African youth players.
Materials and Methods:
Data were collected from 109 male players across three football academies (mean CA: 14.8 ± 2.4 years, mean SA: 14.2 ± 2.1 years). Participants completed the Sport Motivation Scale-II (SMS-II) and the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28).
Results: Amotivation, external, and introjected regulations differed significantly across CA groups, negatively affecting the Relative Autonomy Index (RAI). SDM, as reflected by the RAI, declined with CA, reaching its lowest point at 15–17 years. SA grouping revealed significant differences for amotivation and external regulation. Coachability differed across CA and SA groups. Amotivation, external regulation, and coachability showed positive correlations with CA, while amotivation and coachability correlated positively with SA. Concentration showed opposite correlations with CA and SA when controlling for the other variable.
Discussion and Conclusion:
CA grouping better captured differences in SDM than SA. The decline in SDM during mid-adolescence seemingly reflects maturation-related developmental challenges . Psychological characteristics in youth football players are influenced by complex interactions beyond age. Future research should employ longitudinal designs with diverse samples to better understand psychological skills development. Further validation of these measures is needed to ensure their usefulness in the South African context.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | South African Journal of Sports Medicine |
| Publication status | Acceptance date - 3 Oct 2025 |