Entrenamiento psicológico para la mejora del rendimiento deportivo en futbolistas juveniles: revisión bibliográfica

Abstract

Mental preparation is a fundamental element in the comprehensive development of young soccer players, particularly in high-pressure competitive environments. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the significance of psychological training through a literature review to improve the performance of youth soccer players. A qualitative and descriptive methodology was employed. Information was collected from databases such as Redalyc, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the virtual library of the Catholic University of Cuenca. The search used keywords such as psychological training, sports performance, youth soccer players, self-confidence, and concentration. The inclusion criteria involved scientific articles published in English and Spanish within the last 10 years, while the exclusion criteria included monographs, non-academic articles, and essays. Eighteen studies were analyzed, identifying two categories: psychological training and sports performance. The findings determine that the most common psychological training techniques include Jacobson’s progressive relaxation, mental visualization, breathing exercises, concentration, activation, stress control, team cohesion, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness strategies. These interventions consistently demonstrated progress in areas such as motivation, self-confidence, team cohesion, concentration, attention, self-esteem, stress reduction, and overall sports performance. In conclusion, psychological training is a crucial dimension for improving competitive performance, supporting emotional well-being, and promoting the athletic careers of youth soccer players. Keywords: Psychological training, sports performance, youth soccer players, self-confidence, concentration