TEAM

Mental challenges in youth Football

Football is one of the world’s most popular activities for young people, an arena where they can acquire physical, mental, and educational skills, develop healthy habits, and forge lifelong friendships. However, in recent years, youth football has begun to face a host of issues within its ranks that can compromise health, safety, and integrity, leading youth organizations to take steps to safeguard and protect their members from mistreatment.

Despite its social role and the fact that football provides physical and health benefits, youth football players are not exempt from mental health issues, and playing football does not make them immune to mental health challenges.

TEAM aims to conduct evidence-based research among youth football players on the challenges and effects of mental health and the need for mental wellbeing.

The project will identify and map general mental health issues and symptoms in youth football, and monitor and understand the level of awareness and knowledge of youth football players and staff in recognizing and responding to mental health issues/symptoms.

A manual will be produced to raise awareness, provide information, and present good practices to stakeholders, practitioners, and policymakers in youth football on how to recognize, respond to, and address youth mental health stigma.

There is clear European added value with broad EU relevance, as it addresses the 55 European members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The findings of this project involve and affect a variety of stakeholders, such as citizens, the private sector, national authorities, and authorities at European and international levels.