Can we predict talent? What coaches are looking for in youth athletes
Despite the plethora of research surrounding talent identification, few studies, if any, have investigated if successful players make consistent improvements in their performance, or start and remain on top of the talent pool.
By Tom Green
Last updated: March 2nd, 2023
6 min read
- Background & Objective
- What They Did
- What They Found
- Practical Takeaways
- Reviewer’s Comments
- About the Reviewer
- Comments
Original study
Fortin-Guichard, D., Huberts, I., Sanders, J., van Elk, R., Mann, D. L., & Savelsbergh, G. J. (2022). Predictors of selection into an elite level youth football academy: A longitudinal study. Journal of Sports Sciences, 1-16.
Background & Objective
Talent identification and development is a highly complex and competitive process in many elite sports.
Progression through a talent identification pathway relies on a number of factors, such as performance data, technical and tactical knowledge, and suitability to the organisation’s culture. Therefore, coaches and sport scientists can play a large role in an athlete’s progression.
As competition increases, selection becomes an increasingly challenging process, where the smallest differences between athletes can be the defining factor in a successful transition into the senior team. Despite the plethora of research surrounding talent identification, few studies, if any, have investigated if successful players make consistent improvements in their performance, or start and remain on top of the talent pool.
Therefore, this study aims to explore the longitudinal relationship between talent variables and their relationship with development over time.
What They Did
One-hundred and ten youth football players (8-12yrs) participated in this study from a Dutch academy. Inclusion criteria required players to be in good physical condition and to be clear of injury/sickness throughout the study.
All athletes had the same programme, with no players being dropped during this longitudinal study lasting five years. To monitor predictors of selection, anthropometry, physical fitness (10, 20 and 30m sprint, a modified arrowhead agility test, standing long jump), gross motor skills test (KörperkoordinationsTest für kinder and Athletic Skills parkour test), technical ability (Loughborough passing test) and psychosocial capacities (Scale for Identification of Sport Potential) were tracked over five years.
Players were tested monthly and independent sample t-tests were used to assess differences in variables of those who were selected into the U13 team for every participant.
What They Found
The main finding of this study was that there were few differences in the developmental trajectories between selected and non-selected players between the ages 8-12. Although both selected and non-selected players improved, there was no sudden leap in performance variables through these age groups. However, greater identifiable features were found when using cross-sectional analysis.
These results indicated that among the players who progressed to the U13 team, the selected players were already superior in a number of talent indicators and maintained this advantage throughout the 8-12 phases of the programme. These included increased strength, speed, and conditioning. These identifiable factors were identifiable from the age of nine. The differences in gross motor coordination, footballing ability and psychosocial characteristics were far less obvious.
Out of all of the variables measured, sprint speed over 20-30m showed the highest correlation with selection, where faster players were more likely to be selected.
Practical Takeaways
From this study, coaches should look to chase physical development by providing regular and consistent strength and conditioning sessions. Given that ‘physicality’ and 20-30m speed are highlighted as desirable traits, S&C coaches can play a key role in developing these qualities. Considering children are not producing high levels of androgens between 8-12yrs, a majority of the adaptations to strength training will be neural in nature. Training approaches that will support this can be achieved by incorporating:
- Heavy sled drags are a fantastic way to drive force adaptations whilst developing good sprint mechanics. Cumulatively, the results from a recent study (HERE) show the greatest gains in short-distance sprint speed were made when youth trained at loads greater than 50% of bodyweight over 6-9 repetitions. Before working at this load, I would recommend a far lighter load (10% of bodyweight) to develop a good technical base. In the attached video, sled drags are preferred to sled pushes as the arms are free to move with the contralateral leg. This is more ecologically valid to the key positions of sprinting (e.g. big arm split, horizontal lean and positive shin angles).
- High levels of eccentric strength training – initial approaches to incorporating eccentric training can be achieved by performing exercises such as Romanian Deadlifts (HERE), hamstring sliders (HERE) and Nordic Hamstring exercises (HERE). These can be advantageous when looking to develop landing kinematics, eccentric strength, braking strength, and deceleration/change of direction ability. When incorporating eccentrics, the attached article recommends 1-2 sets of 6-8 repetitions for beginners, moving to 2-3 sets of 6-8 reps over 8-weeks. In addition to the strength improvements, eccentric exercises are highly effective as injury preventatives and muscle myofibrillar hypertrophy.
- Improve ankle stiffness – ankle stiffness has a long association with sprint speed. In an athletic sense, stiffness describes the ability of the body or ankle to resist deformation. A stiffer leg-sprint should augment performance by utilising elastic energy. Stiff ankles show a high correlation with sprint speed and optimal stride length (HERE). To develop stiffness, plyometric tasks with short ground contact times are preferable. These may include ankling, skipping, pogo jumps and various hops. Asking youth to ‘follow a leader’ or create a trail is a fantastic way to keep S&C playful whilst working on ankle stiffness mechanics.
Tom Green’s comments
“The results from this study indicate that although both selected and non-selected players benefit and improve as a result of training, a natural ‘gap’ does exist and continues to exist after years of training. Therefore, it is important that those who are less developed physically take steps to catch up to their more physical peers in order to influence the selection process. As well as seeking S&C support for physical qualities, my experience of talent identification has seen that individuals who do the basics well (e.g. punctuality, organised, friendly etc.) are also likely to succeed despite physical disadvantages.
“In the attached podcast, Jim Miller (Chief of Sports Performance at USA Cycling) suggests individuals who are motivated, employ a growth-mindset, build relationships, set goals and prioritise their development as athletes are more likely to perform at the highest level. My philosophy about working with youth completely aligns with this, as realistically not all will make it to the highest level. Therefore, the biggest credit our athletes can give to us when they leave is that they are good people, with strong values and identities. This places them in good stead to secure future opportunities in sport and employment, falling under the responsibilities of a holistic long-term athletic development (LTAD) programme.
Finally, sprint speed over 20-30m proved to be a factor that selection identified as significant. Therefore, coaches should look to continually develop sprint speed over acute distances (<50m), to ensure players stand a fighting chance of being advanced through the LTAD system. Those activities mentioned in the practical takeaways, coupled with some tempo runs (e.g. 50m in 6 seconds) should develop anaerobic qualities to drive sprint performance. Tempo runs should only occur when maximal sprinting technique (HERE) can be maintained.”
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Tom Green
Tom Green is currently the Head of Athletic Development at St Peters RC High School in England. Tom has extensive experience in a range of sports at varied levels. He holds a BSc and MSc in Strength and Conditioning, is a qualified teacher, and sits on the UKSCA board for S&C in Schools.
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