Evaluating models of athlete development through assessment of within- and between-sport and activity variability among competitive female youth soccer athletes

The balance of primary sport practice and multisport participation during childhood for later success in sport has been debated in models of athlete development. Various mechanisms have been proposed regarding why activity diversity would aid development, including motivation. Here we test this mechanism by assessing childhood sport and other types of activity diversity (within-sport and non-sport activity) among female competitive adolescent athletes in soccer (<i>N</i> = 211; 12-19 yr) and measures of motivation. Athletes in four skill groups (grassroots/Div. 2 to Nationally competitive) completed an online survey about their practice history in soccer (number of teams, positions and play hours), other sports and non-sport activities, and motivation and commitment. Not surprisingly, higher skill groups participated in more childhood soccer practice than lower skill groups, but they showed less sport diversity and there were no differences in non-sport activity participation. The higher skill groups reported more soccer play and more team diversity than lower groups, but showed greater position specialization in childhood. Total (and relative) hours in soccer practice and play (compared to non-soccer) were positively correlated with soccer motivation. These data are consistent with pathways of skill development in soccer based on early majority engagement in the primary sport; without exclusive engagement and high amounts of play. Sampling between sport or other activities was not related to skill or motivation, so there was no evidence of between-activity transfer related to enhanced motivation for soccer.