Why do some aspiring athletes reach the professional ranks while others do not? Though some previous research has focused on the psychological characteristics of athletes who are already successful, little research has been conducted on the psychological characteristics that enable aspiring athletes to succeed. In a study that sought to do just that, Dutch psychologist Nico Van Yperen was able to predict with over seventy percent accuracy whether Dutch junior-elite soccer players would become professional soccer players by assessing their mental characteristics.
Specifically, the researcher assessed 65 fourteen-year-old males that attended an internationally recognized soccer academy. Around 10-15 years later, a portion of these players became professional soccer players. It was later found that three psychological factors could predict who would achieve professional status with seventy percent accuracy. These three factors are goal commitment, problem-centered coping behaviors, and a tendency to seek social support.
Although this research was conducted on athletes, it stands to reason that it may be applicable in far broader contexts. Both researchers and practitioners should consider whether the three predictors of success found in this article can also predict employee success in the workplace.
Van Yperen, N.W. (2009). Why Some Make it and Others Do Not: Identifying Psychological Factors That Predict Career Success in Professional Adult Soccer. Sport Psychologist, 23(3), 317-329.
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