Supporting Identity Development in Talented Youth Athletes: Insights from Existential and Cultural Psychological Approaches

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present existential and cultural psychology approaches to understanding athlete identity, and offer strategies for the development of well-rounded, reflexive and self-aware youth sports performers. Recently, the sport psychology discourse on athletic identity has diversified with a range of alternative approaches and methodologies now being employed by academics and applied practitioners. These alternative approaches advocate that identity interests can be simultaneously personal, social and cultural. Consequently, we recommend that Sport Psychology Consultant’s (SPC’s) should operate at both an organizational and individual level with the aim of facilitating elite youth athletes to (a) identify meaningful personal goals and values, (b) take responsibility and ownership for their development, (c) reflect on their limitations and possibilities, and (d) embrace not diminish alternative narratives.

Keywords:

• Cultural sport psychology
• existentialism
• identity
• sport psychology consultancy
• youth development