Table 3
Perception that student-football players have of the support they should receive from the people around them in order to be able to cope with the HDC.
| Descriptive quotes from student-football players | Codes | Sub-themes |
| “The higher the category, the more complicated it is to manage competitiveness and we need help”; “Learning to see colleagues as people who can help us.” | Conflicts | Competitiveness management |
| “We need people who are empathetic”; “Who understand that each person is different and has different needs”; “Who can adapt their schedules and give us energy.” | Diversity | Emotional validation and HDC support |
| “Psychologists are the people who give you the most confidence and support in any situation”; “We need them to teach us not to depend only on football to be able to be well.” | Mental Health | Transition management and trust |
| “In the residence you have everything, it’s amazing all the facilities they give you”; “The tutors also have contact with the relatives, and that gives the parents a lot of peace of mind.” | Resources and contact | Organisation and planning |
| “Even if you are unmotivated and tired, they help you and you end up doing everything”; “They help you feel better and make you change your mind.” | Attention | Understanding and adapting to the HDC |
| “If we have their support, we feel less pressure”; “Problems in our environment affect our HDC”; “The communication they have with the psychologists at the club helps a lot.” | Interaction and communication | Social support and emotional availability |
