Table 2
Footballers-students’ perceptions of the challenges they face and the resources they need during their HDC.
| Descriptive quotes from student-athletes | Codes | Sub-themes |
| “When you are injured, it is very difficult to have courage”; “Psychologists teach you to have other objectives”; “Being dedicated to your studies helps you to see that there are other things apart from football.” | Injuries | Non-normative transitions and locus of control management |
| “If we don’t have everything planned and organised in advance, we have the worry of lack of time and it causes us stress”; “I have managed to get everything done because of the conditions we have.” | Timetables | Flexibility and adaptability |
| “Having all these resources helps us to combine everything”; “For those of us who are not in residence, it would be good to have classrooms where we can advance our work when we have free time.” | Transport and facilities | Availability of means |
| “The organisation, planning and understanding of everyone is the key”; “The timetable they provide us with and the techniques they give us psychologists help us to be able to follow through with the objectives.” | Daily routine | Organisation and planning |
| “Not knowing how to combine everything can cause us stress and make us want to give it up, especially studies”; “Not being penalised by changes in timetables is what helps us most to be able to do the DC.” | Evaluation tests | Adaptation of demands in stressful situations |
