From the Field to Science: Presentations on Youth Football and Mental Health at the 4th International Congress on Football, Innovation and Psychology
The team from the Research Group in Sport and Exercise Psychology (GRECSE-GEPE), affiliated with the Institute, played a prominent role in the 4th International Congress on Football, Innovation and Psychology, held in July 2025 at the University of Santiago de Compostela.
Their participation focused on a thematic session addressing sport transitions and dual careers in football.
Under the coordination of Yago Ramis and Miquel Torregrossa, the session explored key factors in football talent development, including adolescent motivation, perfectionism, emotional regulation, the role of families, and migration processes in both youth and professional football. The aim was to foster discussion and generate applied knowledge about the psychosocial challenges faced by footballers during their academic and athletic pathways.
Highlighted presentations included:
- Patada a seguir, on the evolution of beliefs and motivation in young footballers.(Yago Ramis, Marta Borrueco, Anna Jordana, José T. Mejías, Marina García and Joan Pons)
- Mental health and emotional regulation in the transition to professional football.(Jahel Molina, Joan Pons, M. Carmen Pastor and Miquel Torregrossa)
- The protective role of parents during the dual career path.(Neus Ramos, Anna Jordana and Miquel Torregrossa)
- Internal migration and adolescence in Uruguayan football.(Flavia Vique, Diego Pena, Pilar Cristaldo and Miquel Torregrossa
- Recommendations for clubs to support migrant coaches.(Fran Herruzo, Anna Jordana and Miquel Torregrossa)
All of these contributions reflect the strong connection between applied research and sports practice that defines the work of GRECSE-GEPE and IRE-UAB. Their efforts are advancing knowledge in the field of dual careers and mental health in football, reinforcing the group’s commitment to athlete wellbeing and holistic development.