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Talent identification in youth soccer
Viswanath Unnithan1, Jordan White, Andreas Georgiou
1Staffordshire University, Centre for Sport, Health and Exercise Research, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom. V.Unnithan@staffs.ac.uk
Journal of Sports Sciences
|October 11, 2012
Summary
Traditional youth soccer talent identification focuses on physical traits, potentially excluding late bloomers. A holistic approach using small-sided games shows promise for identifying technically skilled players.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Talent Identification
- Youth Soccer Development
Background:
- Traditional talent identification in youth soccer often relies on anthropometric and physiological measures.
- These methods may favor early-maturing athletes and overlook late bloomers.
- Existing physiological measures like agility and sprint times can differentiate elite from sub-elite players.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review traditional talent identification methods in youth soccer.
- To present pilot data on a more holistic talent identification approach.
- To explore the efficacy of small-sided games as a talent identification tool.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of traditional talent identification strategies.
- Analysis of pilot data from small-sided games with elite youth soccer players.
- Comparison of technical skill with performance in small-sided games.
Main Results:
- Physical attributes alone may not be sufficient for long-term talent identification.
- Agility and sprint times are discriminators between elite and sub-elite youth soccer players.
- A moderate agreement was found between technical skill and success in small-sided games.
Conclusions:
- A holistic approach to talent identification in youth soccer is recommended.
- Small-sided games show potential as a tool for identifying technically gifted players.
- Future research should further investigate holistic methods for talent identification.
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