Abstract
Sports dropout during formative stages constitutes a relevant problem for public health and social cohesion, due to its implications for the physical and psychosocial well-being of adolescents. In the context of the Suscal canton, football is not only configured as a physical-sporting practice but also as a key element in the construction of community identity. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between self-esteem levels and the intention to drop out of sport in adolescent football players aged 11 to 14 years belonging to a local football school. A quantitative approach study was developed, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design and correlational scope. The sample consisted of 50 athletes selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Validated psychometric instruments were used for data collection: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), ensuring adequate levels of reliability and validity. The study aims to identify psychosocial indicators associated with sports dropout, considered as early warning signs, allowing coaches and physical education professionals to move from an approach focused exclusively on technical-tactical performance toward a model that prioritizes psychological well-being and motivational climate. The results contribute to the design of intervention strategies oriented toward sports retention, in order to prevent sedentary behavior and reduce social risk factors, thereby promoting that football practice at formative ages favors processes of personal self-fulfillment and comprehensive development.
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