Player-labelling as a solution to overcome maturation selection biases in youth football. Issue 14 (18th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lüdin, Dennis; Donath, Lars; Cobley, Stephen; Mann, David; Romann, Michael
• Is Part Of: Journal of sports sciences. Volume 40:Issue 14(2022)
• Page Start: 1641
• Page End: 1647
• Publication Date: 2022-07-18
• Subjects: talent identification -- talent development -- maturation -- selection bias -- youth soccer; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 612.044
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2022.2099077
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-0414

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The fact that potentially skilled, but biologically later-maturing athletes are less likely to be selected into talent development programmes (TDP) can represent a failure of Talent Identification (TID) in sports. To overcome maturation selection biases, maturation independent TID should be established to include less mature, but talented athletes in TDP more frequently. Using a randomised parallel-group design, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of labelling under-11 (U11 ) Swiss male youth football players ( n = 24, age = 11.0 ± 0.3 years) via maturation-ordered shirt numbers during rank assessment by talent scouts ( n = 83, scout experience = 4.8 ± 2.4 years). Following observation of video recorded selection tournaments, player-labelling "informed" scouts were significantly more likely to rank less mature players higher on their player potential, t (81) = 2.57, p = .012, d = −0.6, 95% CI [−1.00, −0.13], than "uninformed" scouts. As altered rankings assisted less mature players, player-labelling may offer a practical and feasible strategy to improve TID by removing possible maturation selection biases. To address maturation selection biases and the potential positive impact of player-labelling more broadly, further research on both male and female athletes in various age categories and sports contexts is recommended.