Mapping the journey: Developmental issues of U17 football players in Indonesia and Malaysia through the lens of sport psychology

Zulakbal Abd Karim

Abstract

Introduction. Football players under the age of 17 have the potential that a country has to become senior-level football players in the future; for this reason, we need to prepare these players as well as possible and overcome various issues that can hinder their development. Becoming a footballer is challenging; you must be the best in many aspects to reach a professional level and stay at that level. In this study, researchers provide an overview of the issues that Indonesian U17 football players will face in their development path. The study Aims. This research aims to obtain information and knowledge regarding the issues that football players under 17 will face on their development path toward becoming professional players in Indonesia and Malaysia. Material and Method. This study employs qualitative methods with a grounded theory approach, ensuring a thorough and rigorous analysis. Twenty-five youth coaches in Indonesia and Malaysia and four parents were surveyed, all of whom had a football coaching license and a minimum of five years of experience in coaching. This study implements data triangulation, utilizing open-ended semi-structured interviews, observation, and document analysis to gather research data. Results. There are three main themes of issues for under-17-year-old football players. First, there are trainer abilities. Second, there are facility issues, both physical and social. The final issue is ideological transformation related to the need for a football revolution and political interference in the development path of Indonesian and Malaysian football players. Conclusions. Researchers recommend that policyholders such as the Malaysian Football Association and the Indonesian Football Association minimize the issues in this study to maximize the development of young players. © 2024, DJ Studio. All rights reserved.

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