A method to identify talent: Visual search and locomotion behavior in young football players

Abstract

The present study examined differences in visual search and locomotor behavior among a group of skilled 10-12 year-old football players. The participants watched video clips of a 4-to-4 position game, presented on a large screen. The participants were asked to take part in the game by choosing the best position for the reception of the ball passed by one of the players in the clip. Participants' visual search and locomotor behavior were collected continuously throughout the presentation of the clip. A within-group comparison was made based upon the participants' interception score, i.e., more at the correct position. The findings show that the high-score group looked more to the ball area, while the players in the low-score group concentrated on the receiving player and on the hips/upper-body region of the passing player. The players in the high-score group covered a significantly greater distance compared to the low-score group. It was concluded that differences in visual search and locomotion behavior can be used as indicators for identifying talented junior football players.

The differential effects of task difficulty on the perception of passing distance and subsequent passing action in a field hockey push pass task

“…Our current findings support the idea that it may be important to form separate tasks for perceptual decision-making and the perceptual control of movements in talent identification and skill acquisition programmes; yet, they also must mutually constrain each other. This is especially important relative to the recent surge in interest in perceptual strategies for talent identification (Savelsbergh, Haans, Kooijman, & van Kampen, 2010;Vaeyens, Lenoir, Williams, & Philippaerts, 2008) and development (e.g., Dicks, van der Kamp, Withagen, & Koedijker, 2015;Ward & Williams, 2003). For example, previous studies within the field include training participants perceptual-cognitive skills using video based presentation modalities of opponents or immersive VR and include measures in which the response to these videos are verbal responses, or joystick responses (e.g., Dhawan, Cummins, Spratford, Dessing & Craig, 2016;Savelsbergh et al, 2010).…”

Team Play in Football: How Science Supports F. C. Barcelona’s Training Strategy

“…Considering pattern recognition as the psychological mechanisms underlying performance in football implies that the knowledge that is automatically activated includes both motor programs (how to make the pass) and spatial information (to whom it is best to make the pass). The technical aspects of modern football have been the focus of much research (Bruce, Farrow, Raynor, & Mann, 2012;Lees et al, 2010;Miranda, Antunes, Pauli, Puggina, & da Silva, 2013;Savelsbergh, Haans, Kooijman, & van Kampen, 2010). On the other hand, how spatial knowledge is encapsulated in the understanding of the player has received comparatively little attention.…”

What information is being acquired during the period of Quiet Eye? Comment on Vickers

“…Other perspectives, as alternative to the information processing approach proposed by Vickers (1996Vickers ( , 2016, could add new elements to QE analysis. Not just the visual search pattern itself, but how experts can make use of the obtained information is crucial to understanding expertise and talent development (Savelsbergh, Haans, Kooijman, & van Kampen, 2010). A perception-action perspective suggests that movement control is based on a continuous coupling to available perceptual information, which is presumed to evolve over time (Savelsbergh & van der Kamp, 2000;Savelsbergh, Onrust, Rouwenhorst, & van der Kamp, 2006).…”