Stakeholders’ understanding and perceptions of bio-banding in junior-elite football training

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the understanding and perceptions of professional football academy staff, youth players and parents/carers in the use of ‘bio-banding’ during a seven week, pre-season training period. Data included a series of one-to-one semi-structured interviews and semi-structured focus groups with the three participant groups. Data were collected at three distinct times: (1) pre-bio-banded training; (2) during-bio-banded training; and (3) post-bio-banded training. Data were analyzed qualitatively using a constant comparative approach. Results suggested that there are six key themes associated with bio-banding pre-season training: (1) interpretation of bio-banding; (2) perceived disadvantages; (3) perceived advantages; (4) changes to coaching planning and practice; (5) educating stakeholders; and (6) logistical issues. This study concludes by proposing applied practitioners consider the findings as a framework to guide operationalizing bio-banding in their environment.

Notes

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9. Helsen, Van Winckel, and Williams, “The Relative Age Effect”.

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16. Cobley et al., “Annual Age-grouping”.

17. Wattie, Cobley, and Baker, “Towards a Unified Understanding”.

18. Ibid.

19. Vaeyens, Philippaerts, and Malina, “The Relative Age Effect”; and Helsen, Van Winckel, and Williams, “The Relative Age Effect”.

20. Malina et al., “Biological Maturation”.

21. Roberts et al., “The Influence of Relative Age”; and Bailey and Collins, “The Standard Model”.

22. Mann and Van Ginneken, “Age-ordered Shirt Numbering”.

23. Roberts and Fairclough, “The Influence of Relative Age”.

24. Ibid.

25. Hurley, Lior, and Tracze, “A Proposal to Reduce”.

26. Cumming, “Premier League Growth Study”; and Cumming et al., “Premier League Academy Soccer”.

27. Palys, “Purposive Sampling,” 697–8.

28. Khamis and Roche, “Predicting Adult Stature”.

29. Ibid.

30. Malina et al., “Maturity Status”.

31. Greulich and Pyle, Radiographic Atlas.

32. Tanner et al., Assessment of Skeletal Maturity; and Tanner and Whitehouse, A New System.

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34. Patton, Qualitative Research and Evaluation.

35. Rubin and Rubin, Qualitative Interviewing.

36. Reeves and Roberts, “Perceptions of Performance Analysis”.

37. Strauss and Corbin, Basics of Qualitative Research.

38. Maykut and Morehouse, Beginning Qualitative Research.

39. Strauss and Corbin, Basics of Qualitative Research.

40. Ibid.

41. see Bilton, “Developing Players”.

42. Werthner and Trudel, “A New Theoretical Perspective”.

43. Wiersma and Fifer, “‘The Schedule Has Been Tough’”; Clarke and Harwood, “Parenting Experiences”; and Clarke, Harwood, and Cushion, “A Phenomenological Interpretation”.

44. van Manen, “Researching Lived experience,” 59.

45. Harwood, Drew, and Knight, “Parental Stressors”.

46. Clarke and Harwood, “Parenting Experiences”.

47. See Bailey and Collins, “The Standard Model”.

48. Potrac and Jones, “Power, Conflict, and Cooperation”; and Cushion and Jones, “Power, Discourse”.

49. Williams and Kendall, “Perceptions of Elite Coaches”.

50. Ibid.

51. Reade, Rogers, and Hall, “Knowledge Transfer”.

52. Bailey, Cope, and Pearce, “Why do Children”.

53. Allendar, Cowburn, and Foster, Understanding participation in sport.

54. Tucker, Referty, and Verhagen, “Injury Risk”.

55. Clarke and Harwood, “Parenting Experiences”.

56. Harwood and Knight, “Parenting in Youth Sport,” 30.

57. Ibid.

58. Harwood and Knight, “Stress in Youth Sport”.

59. Vaeyens et al., “Talent Identification and Development”.

60. For example, Crust and Azadi, “Mental Toughness”; and Cook et al., “‘What It Takes’”.

61. Santos et al., “Personal and Social Responsibility”.

62. Camiré, Trudel, and Bernard, “A Case Study”.

63. Flett et al., “Tough Love”.

64. Mills et al., “Identifying Factors”.

65. Cushion, “Modelling the Complexity”.

66. Relvas et al., “Organizational Structures”.

67. Nesti and Sulley, Youth Development in Football.

68. Larsen, Alferman, and Christensen, “Psychosocial Skills”.

69. Clarke and Harwood, “Parenting Experiences”.

70. Ibid.

71. see Williams and Kendall, “Perceptions of Elite Coaches”.

72. Ibid.

73. Vella, Oades, and Crowe, “The Relationship Between Coach Leadership”.

74. Mageau and Vallerand, “The Coach–Athlete Relationship”.

75. Cumming et al., “Premier League Academy Soccer”.