Recommendations for psychology and youth sports. A consensus document

Abstract

Sports organisations involved in grassroots sports have trainers, managers and referees whose attitudes, work and dedication show that many of them are volunteers with little knowledge of psychology as a working method. This document, promoted by the Programa Talento Deportivo of the University of Navarra and the Official Association of Psychologists of Navarra, considers the role of psychology in children’s and adolescents’ sport and the benefits it can offer to sports players, parents, trainers, referees and managers. It also establishes a consensus in the form of a set of guidelines and twenty-seven recommendations. The aim of this consensus is to recognise the benefits of including psychology in the profiles involved in grassroots sport, to enable those involved to acquire skills that can help to improve performance and psychological states, promoting directives to be used when managing and training young sports players.