Reasons for Dropout Among Selected Young Female and Male Football Players on Their Path to Elite Senior Level

Peter Brusvik^*Tor Söderström

• Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

This study examines what reasons female and male players selected to a nationwide youth football talent programme (regional youth teams) had for dropping out of football between 15-23 years of age. The study builds on the answers of 363 women and 170 men to an open questionnaire question: “Can you describe in your own words why you stopped playing club football?”. The analysis showed that for both women and men were structural reasons the most common for dropping out, followed by interpersonal and intrapersonal reasons. Although the analysis did not show that there were significant differences in drop out constraints between genders, the significance of different drop out reasons within these constraints dimensions varies between women and men. For women, there is a gradual shift from injuries causing the end of a football career in the age group 15–19 years to a perceived lack of time and an increased focus on education and one’s working career, Among men, injuries, studies and work become with higher age reasons for dropping out of football, although not as clearly as among women. Moreover, the findings emphasize that drop-out reasons interact with each other where some prevent and others support continued play. Understanding talented and selected players reasons for dropping out of football can provide guidance for a sustainable talent development that reduce elements that influence drop-out among talented youth football players.