Proactive personality and positional competition: exploring the impact on soccer players’ performance and gender differences

Aim: The study aims to explore the relationship between proactive personality and positional competition in soccer players, considering factors like gender, age, position, and years of active participation in the sport. Method: Quantitative data collection methods were employed, including the Proactive Personality Scale and Positional Competition in Sports Scale, along with a custom personal information form. The study involved 242 soccer players (average age: 20.60 years, 39% female) from semi-amateur soccer clubs in Ankara province, surveyed during the 2022-2023 season. Results: The study found no significant differences in proactive personality and positional competition among soccer players based on their age and position (p > .05). However, gender differences were significant, with male players scoring higher than females in receiving and providing teammate support, communication, and overall positional competition in sports. Conclusion: Proactive personality can be a determinant of positional competition in sports. Moreover, these findings may provide important contributions to the development of talent identification, athlete development programs and coaching strategies that aim to increase competitiveness and success in positional contexts. In addition, in the present study, it can be concluded that following athletes over time is an important phenomenon for proactive personality and athletic development.