Establishing consensus of position-specific predictors for elite youth soccer in England

Roberts, Simon J.; McRobert, Allistair P.; Reeves, Matthew J.

doi:10.1080/24733938.2019.1581369

Cited by 29 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Answers that varied in description, but were similar in content and context, were grouped together in a single attribute construct (e.g. "positioning on offense" and "moving without the ball in offense") based on previous literature (Larkin & O'Connor, 2017;Murr et al, 2018a;Murr et al, 2018b;Roberts et al, 2019b). Then, we assessed the frequency of each attribute, as well as the number of times that attribute was considered to be the most important predictor of future performance by a scout (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How soccer scouts identify talented players

Bergkamp

Frencken

Niessen

et al. 2021

European Journal of Sport Science

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Scouts of soccer clubs are often the first to identify talented players. However, there is a lack of research on how these scouts assess and predict overall soccer performance. Therefore, we conducted a large-scaled study to examine the process of talent identification among 125 soccer scouts. Through an online self-report questionnaire, scouts were asked about (1) the players' age at which they can predict players' soccer performance, (2) the attributes they consider relevant, and (3) the extent to which they predict performance in a structured manner. The most important results are as follows. First, scouts who observed 12-year-old and younger players perceived they could predict at older ages (13.6 years old, on average) whether a player has the potential to become a professional soccer player. This suggests that scouts are aware of the idea that early indicators of later performance are often lacking, yet do advise on selection of players at younger ages. Second, when identifying talented players, scouts considered more easily observable attributes, such as technical attributes. However, scouts described these often in a broad sense rather than in terms of specific predictors of future performance. Finally, scouts reported that they assess attributes of players in a structured manner. Yet, they ultimately based their prediction (i.e. final score) on an intuitive integration of different performance attributes, which is a suboptimal strategy according to existing literature. Taken together, these outcomes provide specific clues to improve the reliability and validity of the scouting process. Highlights. Based on a large sample of soccer scouts, we examine three issues that are important in the process of identifying talented soccer players: The age at which good performance predictions can be made, which attributes are relevant predictors, and how performance predictions are formed. . Scouts who observe players in young age cohorts believe that the age at which they can predict performance is older than the players they typically scout, suggesting that they are aware that early indicators of performance are often lacking. . Technical performance attributes are considered as most important performance predictors by scouts, but these are often described in a broad -rather than specific -sense. . Scouts indicate that they predict performance in a structured manner, but form their overall performance prediction on an intuitive integration of different performance attributes, which can be a suboptimal approach.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How soccer scouts identify talented players

Bergkamp

Frencken

Niessen

et al. 2021

European Journal of Sport Science

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“…In light of these observations, we suggest that a degree of ambiguity and individual interpretation may have occurred during the coach rating process. Despite presenting previously identified attributes and definitions related to the soccer recruitment process in soccer, we suggest that, in line with recent work, predictors may need to be identified and established by the coaches in a two-part process (Reeves et al, 2018b ; Roberts et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

“…When examining coach ratings for attributes categorized within “Skill,” we observed the largest differences between “Reselected” and “Deselected” players for “Game Understanding,” “Game Sense/Awareness,” and “Anticipation,” and we observed the smallest difference for the rating of “Striking the Ball.” Attributes we observed as the largest differences between groups have previously been categorized as “perceptual-cognitive skills” in soccer (Roca et al, 2012 ; Williams et al, 2012 ; Roberts et al, 2019 ). Perceptual-cognitive skills typically refer to the ability of performers to identify and process environmental information for integration with existing knowledge to facilitate the selection of appropriate responses under time pressure (Williams, 2000 ; Williams et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…“Reselected” players received a higher overall subjective coach category rating than “Deselected” players for “Skill,” “Psychological,” and “Physical” abilities during our study. Both “Skill” and “Psychological” attributes are identified as important by coaches and recruiters when making decisions around (de)selection in youth soccer (Larkin and O'Connor, 2017 ; Roberts et al, 2019 ). However, these authors suggest that although coaches and recruiters deem physical abilities necessary for soccer, they may value them less than skill or psychological attributes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Selected, Deselected, and Reselected: A Case Study Analysis of Attributes Associated With Player Reselection Following Closure of a Youth Soccer Academy

Dugdale

McRobert

Unnithan

2021

Front. Sports Act. Living

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Considering the perceived benefit of early recruitment and the time and resources spent developing youth players, individuals released from talent development programmes are often re-recruited by rival academies. However, due to the contractual nature of many talent development programmes, limited empirical data exists on players deselected from (or reselected to) youth soccer academies. Adopting a novel case study approach, differences in skill, psychological, and physical attributes associated with reselection following closure of a junior-elite soccer academy were explored. Overall subjective coach ratings for skill, psychological, and physical abilities; subjective coach ratings for skill and psychological attributes; and physical fitness test performance of 79 junior-elite soccer players (U11–U17) were assessed as part of regular scheduled testing and monitoring practices prior to the academy closure. Reselection status was monitored and recorded for all players in the 6 months following the academy closure and was classified as a persistence/progression (“Reselected”) or attrition (“Deselected”) in playing level. Of the 79 released players, a total of 60 players (76%) were re-signed to a junior-elite academy within 6 months. Differences were observed for overall ratings of skill, psychological, and physical abilities in favor of the “Reselected” player group. “Reselected” players were also rated higher by coaches for all attributes categorized as skill and psychological, as well as performing better at all physical fitness tests. However, “Reselected” players were lesser in stature and body mass and less mature than “Deselected” players. Our findings suggest that reselection is not a product of anthropometric criteria and, therefore, a pathway for selection remains open for later maturing players. We also inform upon desirable qualities associated with player reselection and provide a case study approach of a unique, yet highly relevant, scenario for talent identification and development in youth soccer.

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“…e . [38]) was incorporated into a video-based, simulated training and analysis tool. The player attribute categories ( i .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A case study of the use of verbal reports for talent identification purposes in soccer: A Messi affair!

2019

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Using a two-study approach, the main purpose of this case study was to explore the use of a verbal reporting methodology to better understand the thought processes of soccer talent scouts during an in-situ talent identification environment. Study 1 developed a standardized coding-scheme to examine verbal cognitions during a single soccer game. Study 2 then utilized this methodology to examine two full-time recruitment staff trained in the use of concurrent verbal reporting before undertaking a live, in-game task. Participants also participated in a debrief interview following the game. The findings of the two studies suggest that developing a verbal reporting protocol is viable, however when applied in a live-game environment it is problematic. Future research should therefore consider a modified version of this task to further explore the cognitions of scouts whilst observing and identifying potential talent.

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Establishing consensus of position-specific predictors for elite youth soccer in England

Cited by 29 publications

References 58 publications

How soccer scouts identify talented players

How soccer scouts identify talented players

Selected, Deselected, and Reselected: A Case Study Analysis of Attributes Associated With Player Reselection Following Closure of a Youth Soccer Academy

A case study of the use of verbal reports for talent identification purposes in soccer: A Messi affair!

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