We examined whether high- or low-creative soccer players who were classified based on an established soccer-specific creative decision-making test differed based on their participation history profiles. Their solutions on the test were measured using the three observation criteria for creativity of originality, flexibility, and fluency of decisions. Questionnaires were used to record the participation history profiles of players. The high-creative group spent significantly more average hours per year in free, unstructured soccer-specific play activity during childhood and early adolescence (i.e., 6–15 years of age) when compared with their low-creative counterparts. No differences were reported for hours per year in soccer-specific formal practice and competition between the two groups across development. Moreover, hours accumulated in other sports, as well as milestones achieved, did not differentiate groups. Our findings suggest that informal unorganized, free play in the primary sport is positively associated with and necessary for the development of superior levels of creative ability in soccer players. Practical implications, further research avenues and limitations are presented.

我们检查了根据既定的针对足球的创造性决策测试进行分类的高创造力或低创造力足球运动员是否根据其参与历史记录而有所不同。他们使用三种观察标准来衡量他们在测试中的解决方案，以确保创意的创造力，灵活性和决策的流畅性。问卷用于记录玩家的参与历史记录。与低创造力人群相比，高创造力人群在儿童和青春期（即6至15岁）期间，每年平均花费更多的时间进行免费的，非结构化的针对足球的踢球活动。在整个发展过程中，两组之间每年在足球方面的正式练习和比赛的小时数没有差异。而且，在其他运动中累积的小时数以及所达到的里程碑并没有使各组区别对待。我们的研究结果表明，初级运动中非正式的，无组织的自由运动与足球运动员更高水平的创造力发展有正相关关系，并且是必要的。提出了实际意义，进一步的研究途径和局限​​性。