Insights into the personality of 193 German elite youth football players and potential implications for the development of motor performance and injury risk

Introduction: Sport-specific performance in football is influenced not only by physical, technical, and tactical factors but also by psychological characteristics such as personality. Previous research suggests traits like extraversion and conscientiousness are positively associated with athletic outcomes. A deeper understanding of personality may allow for more individualized training and support, potentially enhancing both short-term performance and long-term development. The present study aimed firstly to describe the prevalence and distribution of personality dimensions according to Cloninger's biopsychosocial model, assessed with the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI), in German elite youth football players, and secondly to explore potential associations of these dimensions with motor performance and injury risk. Methods: A total of 193 players (aged 11-18 years, mean 14.6 ± 1.9) from two elite academies were assessed during the 2023/2024 pre-season. In addition to the JTCI, body composition, 30 m sprint, heading jump, and injury history were collected. Analyses included Spearman correlations, multiple linear regression and moderation analyses (with HC3 robust standard errors), as well as logistic regression for injury occurrence. Results: The personality dimensions of Persistence (mode: 95%-100%) and Self-Directedness (mode: 85%-90%) tended to be distributed toward high percentile ranks, while Novelty Seeking (mode: 20%-25%) and Harm Avoidance (mode: 10%-15%) tended toward low ranks. Age consistently predicted sprint performance and injury frequency, while no personality dimension showed significant associations with sprinting, jumping, or injury outcomes. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first study applying Cloninger's model in German elite youth football. These findings provide rare descriptive insights into adolescent athletes' personality profiles and suggest that personality may play a greater role in long-term development, resilience, and talent progression than in immediate physical performance.