Sports training process and transition of categories in soccer: an analysis from the bioecological theory of Urie Bronfenbrenner

The objective of the study was to analyze the environmental factors associated with the permanence of young soccer players in the transition phase from the under-15 to the under-17 category. Fifteen under-17 footballers participated in the Pa-ranaense Championship. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants. The main results pointed to the im-portance of parental support, combined with public policies and cultural aspects for the continuity of young soccer players in their sports careers. It is concluded that the athlete who receives parental support in the affective and financial aspects, the positive inter-vention of the factors resulting from the indirect environments, supported by the sports incentive policies, are more likely to remain in the sport.