Psychological Determinants of Sports Talent Selection in Football (Soccer) Among Children Aged 9–12 Years

Abstract

Talent identification in youth football represents a multidimensional challenge requiring integration of physical, technical, and psychological criteria. While physical and technical attributes have dominated traditional selection practices, psychological determinants increasingly emerge as critical predictors of long-term athletic success and healthy development in children aged 9–12 years. This conceptual article synthesizes current theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence to propose an integrative model for psychological talent selection in football academies. Six core psychological domains are examined: motivation and self-determination, competitive anxiety and emotional regulation, attention and perceptual-cognitive skills, self-confidence and resilience, coachability and learning orientation, and mental health and wellbeing. The article emphasizes methodological considerations grounded in ethical safeguarding principles and proposes practical applications aligned with preventive and health-oriented physical-sport activity programs. By embedding psychological assessment within a holistic, child-centered approach, football organizations can enhance both talent identification accuracy and player welfare outcomes during critical developmental windows.