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International Society of Sport Psychology 16th World Congress
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My latest book has just been released and it’s dedicated to football. It’s not a sports psychology manual, but rather a story told through four themes: training, champions, coaches, and the number 10 – the magical jersey of football.
It’s a book designed not only for football professionals but for all football enthusiasts, offering insights into why the coach is called “mister” or “manager” and how the myth of the number 10 was born, starting with Pelé. It also presents the psychological profiles of some great coaches to understand how different personalities can still produce top-level professionals. And it explores who the first professional footballers were and those who revolutionized the game – from Cruyff to many other football innovators.
From Maurizio Crosetti’s introduction: “Alberto Cei has been a sports psychologist his whole life – a life certainly well spent. His latest work focuses on football, training, motivation, and concentration. These are sacred words, unfortunately somewhat forgotten today, as the football vocabulary seems increasingly filled with terms like ‘inverted full-backs’, ‘building from the back’, and ‘wing-backs’…
This book, on the other hand, starts from scratch – it’s an ABC of core ideas. Because it’s easy to talk about training: but who trains the trainers? Who teaches the teachers?
Team spirit, the true meaning of being a team, and constant improvement as real objectives: these are the matches that must be won. And you don’t get there by just lining up a series of drills – that’s what machines do, not people. On the surface, Alberto Cei has written an accessible essay on psychology applied to football. In reality, it’s a treatise on education, learning, and the harmonious development of the human being. Motivation and concentration therefore become two of the most important words in this book – and in the life, not just the sporting life, that it portrays.”
For a long time, it was believed that team sports were not suitable for young people with autism due to motor difficulties, low body awareness, hypersensitivity to stimuli, and challenges in team dynamics. However, recent experiences show the opposite: with the right approach, soccer can become an important opportunity for growth and well-being.
Unlike school or therapeutic activities, which are often structured and predictable, soccer takes place in a dynamic outdoor environment with ever-changing stimuli. Facing movement, interaction with teammates, and unexpected situations can initially be challenging, but with the support of coaches and psychologists, these young athletes learn to better manage their emotions and develop motor and social skills.
Child neuropsychiatrist Roberto Rossi highlights how, thanks to sports, many young people have made remarkable progress not only physically but also in communication and social relationships. Soccer provides them with a space for fun and fulfillment, fostering positive integration with peers and improving their quality of life.
Based on these principles, the Integrated Soccer Academy has been active for the past ten years, developing an innovative soccer teaching system for young people with autism. This approach is now documented in the book Autism and Soccer, edited by Alberto Cei and Daniela Sepio, with contributions from coaches, psychologists, speech therapists, and medical professionals.
Una nuova metodologia d’integrazione e d’insegnamento
Alberto Cei e Daniela Sepio (a cura di)
Torgiano: Calzetti & Mariucci
2025, 150 pagine
From the educational experience promoted by the Integrated Soccer Academy, an innovative technical integration model has emerged, illustrated in this manual. It is centered on activities aimed at the development of young people with intellectual disabilities. Specifically, the objective is to integrate young individuals with intellectual disabilities by promoting grassroots soccer as a relational and rehabilitative tool.
The proposed working model is organized into teams and features tailored educational and training methodologies developed by youth soccer experts, sports psychologists, speech therapists, and medical professionals.
An equally important aspect is the positive social impact that can be achieved through collaboration with schools, special education teachers, and, of course, families, who are encouraged to participate in their children’s training sessions, share experiences, and actively engage in the educational project.
THE GROWTH MINDSET DIARIES FOR TEENS:
A Guide for Teens (Ages 12-18) to Overcome Challenges & Grow with Journaling Companion Book Kindle Edition, 2025
By Giani Boldeanu
What if the only thing standing between you and success was the way you think?
Do you ever feel stuck? Afraid of failure? Worried you’re just not good enough? You’re not alone. But here’s the truth: Your abilities aren’t fixed—they can grow, just like a muscle, just like a skill.
In The Growth Mindset Diaries for Teens, you’ll find 20 powerful, real-life stories about young people just like you—students, athletes, artists, and dreamers—who faced challenges, self-doubt, and failure… and came out stronger. Each story is packed with inspiring lessons, practical exercises, and game-changing strategies to help you:
Turn setbacks into stepping stones – Learn how to bounce back from failure with confidence.
Silence self-doubt and unleash your potential – Replace “I can’t” with “I’m not there… yet.”
Master the science of resilience – Discover how the most successful people think, learn, and grow.
Develop confidence that lasts a lifetime – Stop worrying about what others think and start believing in yourself.
Apply what you learn – Reflection prompts and action steps help you make real changes in your life.
And the best part? This book comes with a companion journal to help you track your progress, reflect on your journey, and apply the lessons in a way that sticks.
Who is this book for?
This book is perfect for teens (ages 12-18) who want to:
- Build confidence and self-belief
- Improve in school, sports, or creative passions
- Overcome fear of failure and rejection
- Stop comparing themselves to others
- Develop a mindset for long-term success
If you’ve ever felt like you’re not smart enough, not talented enough, or not “born” for success—this book is here to prove you wrong. Greatness isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build.
It’s nice to work by blaming others (the players) for failures or by claiming not to have had enough time (few games played, few months). All true, but then why did he accept this responsibility? It seems like those who say that for what they are paid, you can’t expect them to work well too. If you’ve chosen to do it, you must give your best; you could have refused and everyone would have understood. Instead, you accept first and then complain.
I wonder what the players think of a coach who attributes the blame for this failure only to them. But beyond this, how do you regain team unity when the blame lies solely on one side? We have many questions, but we will never get the answers. At the moment, there have only been accusations, which are fair from fans and the media but wrong if directed only at one side by the coach, who excludes himself from a critical attitude towards himself.
It was the classic representation of an explanation for poor performance: “It’s not my fault, it’s the others…”
Interesting summary poster on the usefulness of motor activity in the treatment of depression by the British Journal of Medicine.
How much physical activity is needed for health?
Everyone can benefit from increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour, including older adults living with chronic conditions or disability. These recommendations are relevant to all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, income level, or functional ability.
Every move counts, as any amount of physical activity is better than none, and more is generally better. Benefits can be gained from even low levels of activity and everyone should be encouraged to start slowly and increase their regular physical activity.
All physical activity counts and can be undertaken in many different ways that contribute to the health benefits and across multiple settings. For example, walking and cycling, every-day household tasks, gardening, dancing, exercise, and sport all count as physical activity.
It’s never too late to start being active, and certain activities, such as multicomponent exercises done as part of weekly physical activity can help prevent falls among older adults.
Too much sedentary behaviour can be unhealthy and can increase the risk of obesity, poorer fitness and cardiometabolic health and behaviour, and affect sleep duration. Limiting and replacing sedentary time with physical activity of any intensity provides health benefits.
(Source: OMS 2023)
“Grit” is a relatively new concept used to describe a particular attitude or mindset that combines determination, perseverance, passion, and inner strength.
Here are some key elements associated with grit:
- Determination - Grit is often characterized by a strong commitment to pursuing a long-term goal, without being discouraged by difficulties. Those with grit are willing to work hard and overcome obstacles to achieve success.
- Passion - Grit often arises from a deep passion for what one is trying to achieve. When a person is passionate about what they do, they are more likely to make the necessary efforts to succeed.
- Resilience - Grit also involves the ability to withstand adversity and failures. Those with grit don’t easily give up when things go wrong but instead look for ways to overcome obstacles and continue to make progress.
- Focus - Grit often entails intense concentration on goals and the ability to remain focused despite distractions. Those with grit are determined to stay on the path to success.
- Intrinsic Motivation - Grit is often driven by intrinsic motivation, meaning an internal desire to achieve something meaningful for oneself through one’s efforts.
In summary, grit is an attitude characterized by determination, passion, and resilience in pursuing goals. It is a quality that can be extremely useful for overcoming challenges and achieving success in various areas of life, including work, sports, and personal growth.
More info:
Frontini, R., Sigmundsson, H., Antunes, R., Silva, A. F., Lima, R., and Clemente, F. M. (2021). Passion, grit, and mindset in undergraduate sport sciences students. New Ideas Psychol. 62, 100870
Lee J. The Role of Grit in Organizational Performance During a Pandemic. Front Psychol. 2022 Jul 7;13:929517.
