title: Future Achievements, Passion and Motivation in the Transition from Junior-to-Senior Sport in Spanish Young Elite Soccer Players.
abstract: Within the context of the transition from junior-to-senior sport, this study aims in first place to explore differences in young Spanish elite soccer players based on the importance given to getting different achievements in their future (including sport, studies and private life) and, in second place, to explore differences among those players in levels of passion, motivation and basic psychological need. 478 elite youth soccer filled out a questionnaire based on the presented theoretical models. A cluster analysis shows a sport oriented group (N = 98) only interested in becoming a professional, a life spheres balance group (N = 288) characterized by balancing the importance of achievements in the sport sphere, as well as in education and a private life and a group (N = 91) only interested in private life achievements. The life spheres balance group shows higher levels of harmonious passion (η2 = .06, F(2, 475) = 9.990, p < .001) than the players of the other groups. The life spheres balance group shows higher levels of autonomous motivation (η2 = .10, F(2, 475) = 13.597, p < .001), autonomy (η2 = .07, F(2, 475) = 6.592, p < .01) and relatedness satisfaction (η2 = .07, F(2, 475) = 5.603, p < .01) than the sport oriented group as well as lower levels of amotivation (η2 = .04, F(2, 475) = 6.665, p < .01) than the private life oriented group. This study suggests players who perceive equal future importance in their life spheres appear to be more resourceful than the other two groups regarding athletes' internal resources, such as passion and motivation, to cope with the transition to professional soccer.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Extremadura(Spain).
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chamorro
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona(Spain).
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torregrosa
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Extremadura(Spain).
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sánchez Oliva
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Extremadura(Spain).
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: García Calvo
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Extremadura(Spain).
authors.forename: Benito
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: León
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D002321:Career Choice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012916:Soccer / Q000523:psychology*; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: careers development; dualistic model of passion; self-determination theory; transitions; youth sport