ABSTRACT
This chapter examines theory and research pertaining to the relevance of self-identity to young athletes and offers recommendations for sport psychology practice with young athletes. After a section in which ‘self’ and ‘self-identity’ are defined and contextualised amidst the multitude of self-related constructs in the psychological literature, research on the development of the self is summarised, regarding the physical and athletic aspect of the self-concept. The salience of identity formation as a critical developmental task of adolescence is discussed, followed by an examination of identity foreclosure and the construct of athletic identity. Research examining the correlates of identity foreclosure and athletic identity in adolescence and beyond is summarised. Guidelines for practice with young athletes informed by knowledge of issues pertaining to identity formation are provided.
