Talent development environment and psychological safety in English professional academy soccer players

Abstract

Psychological safety (PS) has been proposed as an important factor for enhancing positive player outcomes; yet its role within talent development environment (TDE) remain underexplored. This gap is particularly relevant within the English soccer system, where professional academies serve as primary TDEs for youth development. This study explored the association between perceived TDEs and PS among male academy players in England. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 157 players (Mage= 16.8, SD = 1.1) from three academies. Players completed the Talent Development Environment (TDEQ-5) and Psychological Safety Scale (PSS) three months into the competitive season. Cluster analysis explored two profiles (n = 80 vs n = 77), with the higher perceived TDE group reporting greater PS (t (155) = 4.85, p