The paradox of progress: structured football, self-efficacy, and the Dunning-Kruger effect – a randomized controlled trial

Considering the results, we conclude that structured football interventions may inadvertently heighten children's self-awareness of their limitations, leading to more modest self-evaluation of efficacy and competence. These findings underscore the importance of considering meta-cognitive shifts and the Dunning-Kruger effect when interpreting intervention outcomes, suggesting that self-report measures may not fully capture genuine skill gains in youth interventions.