Factors affecting the identification of talented junior-elite footballers: a case study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify and examine factors associated with the identification of talented junior-elite footballers. Three data collection methods were employed: (1) document analysis (4 documents), (2) overt observation (~105 h) and (3) 12 semi-structured one-to-one interviews with staff responsible for player recruitment (M = 70 min). Data were analysed using a constant comparative approach, which allowed flexibility and reflexivity throughout the data collection period. Two core themes concerning the identification of talented players at this academy emerged: "structural issues", which were further categorised as: (1) financial; (2) educational; (3) philosophical or cultural; (4) competition amongst clubs; and (5) hours in practice; and "Current performance and potential talent" which covered issues around growth, maturation and development and psycho-social attributes. The paper concludes by suggesting that clubs should be more proactive in understanding the structural issues that affect talent identification processes, and better educating and supporting staff responsible for recruitment activity.

Notes

1. For example, Abbott and Collins, Eliminating the Dichotomy; Bailey and Morley, ‘Towards a Model’; Baker and Schorer, Identification and development.

2. Williams and Reilly, ‘Talent Identification and Development’; and Miller, Cronin, and Baker, ‘Nurture, Nature’.

3. Williams and Reilly, ‘Talent Identification and Development’, 658.

4. Miller, Cronin, and Baker, ‘Nurture, Nature’.

5. Rees et al., ‘The Great British Medalists’.

6. Balyi and Hamilton, ‘Long-term Athlete Development’; le Gall et al., ‘Anthropometric and Fitness Characteristics’; and Meylan et al., ‘Talent Identification in Soccer’.

7. Bailey and Collins, ‘The Problem with the Pyramid’; Bailey and Collins, ‘The Standard Model’; Côté, ‘The Influence of the Family’; and Côté and Vierimaa, ‘The Developmental Model’.

8. MacNamara et al., ‘Promoting Lifelong Physical Activity’.

9. Güllich, ‘Training Quality’.

10. Faber et al., ‘Assessing Personal Talent Determinants’.

11. Côté, ‘The Influence of the Family’.

12. Vaeyens et al., ‘Identifying Young Players’; Abbott and Collins, Eliminating the Dichotomy; Durand-Bush and Salmela, ‘Becoming a World’; and Vaeyens et al., ‘Talent Identification and Development’.

13. Bailey and Collins, ‘The Problem with the Pyramid’.

14. Durand-Bush and Salmela, ‘Becoming a World’; Régnier, Salmela, and Russell, ‘Talent Detection and Development’; and Bailey and Collins, ‘The Problem with the Pyramid’.

15. Ibid.

16. The Football Association Technical Department, ‘Football Education for Young Players’.

17. Premier League, Elite Player Performance Plan.

18. Ibid.

19. Ibid.

20. Vaeyens et al., ‘Identifying Young Players’; Vaeyens et al., ‘Talent Identification and Development’; and Williams and Reilly, ‘Talent Identification and Development’.

21. Mills et al., Identifying Factors; Clarke and Harwood, ‘Parenting Experiences’; and Christensen and Sørensen, ‘Sport or School?’.

22. le Gall et al., ‘Anthropometric and Fitness Characteristics’; Meylan et al., ‘Talent Identification in Soccer’; and Figueiredo et al., ‘Youth Soccer Players’.

23. Ibid.

24. Wilson et al., ‘Multivariate Analyses’.

25. Le Moal et al., ‘Validation of the Loughborough’.

26. Vaeyens et al., ‘Identifying Young Players’; Meylan et al., ‘Talent Identification in Soccer’; le Gall et al., ‘Anthropometric and Fitness Characteristics’; and Williams and Reilly, ‘Talent Identification and Development’.

27. Williams and Reilly, ‘Talent Identification and Development’.

28. Mujika et al., ‘Fitness Determinants’; and Hirose, ‘Relationships among Birth-month’.

29. Miller, Cronin, and Baker, ‘Nurture, Nature’, 645.

30. Christensen and Sørensen, ‘Sport or School?’.

31. Christensen, ‘“An Eye for Talent”’; and Miller, Cronin, and Baker, ‘Nurture, Nature’.

32. Clarke and Harwood, ‘Parenting Experiences’.

33. Morley et al., ‘Developmental Contexts and Features’.

34. Crabtree and Miller, ‘Research Practice Settings’; and Stake, ‘Case Studies’.

35. Sparkes and Smith, Qualitative Research Methods in Sport.

36. Lincoln and Guba, ‘Establishing Trustworthiness’, 344–97.

37. Atkinson and Coffey, ‘Analysing Documentary Realities’, 56–75.

38. Watson, ‘Ethnomethodology and Textual Analysis’, 80–98.

39. Patton, Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods.

40. Premier League, Elite Player Performance Plan.

41. Rubin and Rubin, Qualitative Interviewing.

42. Strauss and Corbin, Basics of Qualitative Research.

43. Maykut and Morehouse, Beginning Qualitative Research.

44. Strauss and Corbin, Basics of Qualitative Research.

45. Ibid.

46. The cost for players attending tours was covered by the club, but any parents wishing to accompany/attend were required to pay for themselves.

47. Townson, The British at Play.

48. Ibid.

49. Premier League, Elite Player Performance Plan, 5.

50. Côté, ‘The Influence of the Family’; and Côté and Vierimaa, ‘The Development Model’.

51. Vaeyens et al., ‘Talent Identification and Development’.

52. Unnithan et al., ‘Talent Identification in Youth’.

53. Miller, Cronin, and Baker, ‘Nurture, Nature’; and Christensen, ‘“An Eye for Talent”’.

54. Christensen, ‘“An Eye for Talent”’.

55. Premier League, Elite Player Performance Plan, 13.

56. Christensen and Sørensen, ‘Sport or School?’.

57. Premier League, Elite Player Performance Plan.

58. Ibid., 75.

59. Cushion, Armour, and Jones, ‘Coach Education’.

60. Armour, ‘Effective Career-long Professional Development’.

61. Nesti and Sulley, Youth Development in Football.

62. Hunter, ‘Liverpool banned’; and Press Association, ‘Manchester City Banned’.

63. Unnithan et al., ‘Talent Identification in Youth’.

64. Bailey and Collins, ‘The Problem with the Pyramid’.

65. Gladwell, Outliers.

66. Premier League, Elite Player Performance Plan, 31.

67. Côté, ‘The Influence of the Family’.

68. Ford et al., ‘The Development Activities’; Haugaasen, Toering, and Jordet, ‘From Childhood to Senior’; and Horning, Aust, and Güllich, ‘Practice and Play’.

69. Ford et al., ‘The Development Activities’.

70. Horning, Aust, and Güllich, ‘Practice and Play’.

71. Vaeyens, Philippaerts, and Malina, ‘The Relative Age Effect’; and Helsen, Van Winckel and Williams, ‘The Relative Age Effect’.

72. Bailey and Collins, ‘The Problem with the Pyramid’.

73. Holt and Dunn, ‘Toward a Grounded Theory’.

74. Miller, Cronin, and Baker, ‘Nurture, Nature’, 653.