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Davidson TK, Barrett S, Toner J, Towlson C. Professional soccer practitioners' perceptions of using performance analysis technology to monitor technical and tactical player characteristics within an academy environment: A category 1 club case study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298346. [PMID: 38452138 PMCID: PMC10919864 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to identify professional soccer practitioners' perceptions of the application of performance analysis technology within a single academy club. Secondary aims were to understand the importance that practitioners place on monitoring technical and tactical player characteristics, current practices, and barriers to implementing wearable technology. Utilising a mixed method design, forty-four professional soccer academy practitioners (Age = 32 ± 5.8; Years of experience = 8.5 ± 6.2) completed an online survey intended to examine present trends, professional practices, and perceptions regarding the monitoring of technical and tactical metrics. Frequency and percentages of responses for individual items were calculated. Subsequently, eleven participants who were directly involved with the monitoring of players were recruited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Interview data was transcribed and analysed using a combination of deductive and inductive approaches to identify key themes. The main findings across both phases of the study were that (1) technical and tactical metrics are monitored more frequently in matches (Technical: 89%; tactical: 91%) than training (Technical: 80%; Tactical 64%), predominantly due to time constraints and staffing numbers. Accordingly, practitioners believe that it would be beneficial to have an automated way of tracking technical (79%) and tactical (71%) metrics and would consider using a foot-mounted IMU to do so (technical (68%) and tactical (57%)). (2) Monitoring technical and tactical metrics is beneficial to assist with player development and to enrich feedback provision (3) Key stake holders, coaches and players should be informed of the relevance and rationale for monitoring. (4) For successful implementation and continued uptake, the information delivered needs to be both meaningful and easy to understand. Findings suggest that although participants appreciate the need to collect technical and tactical metrics, they are keen to ensure that wearable-derived data does not replace experiential and contextual knowledge. Accordingly, practitioners need to work closely with coaches to determine the contexts in which metrics may or may not prove useful. However, as the sample comprised of participants from a single academy, further studies including more practitioners are warranted. Likewise, future research could also extend to include academy soccer players perceptions too.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tia-Kate Davidson
- University of Hull, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Barrett
- Sport Science, Performance Analysis, Research and Coaching (SPARC), Playermaker, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Toner
- University of Hull, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Towlson
- University of Hull, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, Hull, United Kingdom
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2
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Fitzgerald F, Campbell M, Kearney PE, Cumming S. Exploring the existence, strength, and independence of relative age and maturation selection biases: a case study in Gaelic football talent development programmes. Ann Hum Biol 2024; 51:2349040. [PMID: 38809024 DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2024.2349040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biological maturity and relative age player selection biases are well documented in youth sports. However, there has been limited examination of the relationship between these biases. AIM This study investigated the presence, strength, and independence of relative age and biological maturity selection biases in Gaelic football. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A total of 247 male players from U14 to U16, from two talent academies were assessed for relative age (decimal age (DA)) and biological maturity (discrepancy between biological and chronological age (BA-CA)). RESULTS Relative age effects (RAE) were observed in the U14 (DA = 0.62, d = 0.40) and U15 squads (DA = 0.57. d = 0.26) only. A bias towards advanced maturity status was present at U14 (BA-CA = 0.60, d = 0.83), U15 (BA-CA = 0.78, d = 0.89), and U16 (BA-CA, d = 1.01). There was a trivial (U14, r(83) = -0.210; U15, r(88) = 0.060) and low (U16, r(76) = 0.352) correlation between relative age and maturity status. CONCLUSION Substantial maturity selection biases and, to a lesser degree, relative age biases are evident in youth Gaelic football. Critically, these biases are independent constructs. Coaches and policy makers should be educated on the distinct influences of relative age and maturation, and on strategies to address these biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Fitzgerald
- Department of Health and Leisure, Munster Technological University Kerry, Tralee, Ireland
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Sport & Human Performance Research Centre, Limerick, Ireland
- Performance and Research Department, Kerry GAA, Co. Kerry, Ireland
| | - M Campbell
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Sport & Human Performance Research Centre, Limerick, Ireland
| | - P E Kearney
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Sport & Human Performance Research Centre, Limerick, Ireland
| | - S Cumming
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
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3
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Ginés HJ, Huertas F, García Calvo T, Ponce-Bordón JC, Figueiredo AJ, Ballester R. Age and Maturation Matter in Youth Elite Soccer, but Depending on Competitive Level and Gender. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2015. [PMID: 36767382 PMCID: PMC9915155 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the relevance of the relative age effect (RAE), maturity status and anthropometry, and their influence on coaches' assessment of players' performance, analyzing both genders and different types of academies (elite vs. non-elite). The sample included 603 soccer players (385 male), from the under 12 (U12), under 14 (U14) and under 16 (U16) categories, belonging to elite and nonelite teams. Coaches' assessment of players' performance, chronological age, anthropometric characteristics, maturity offset (MO) and peak height velocity (PHV) were registered. Our results showed that RAE was present in both genders within the elite, but not in the nonelite academies. Early maturity players were overrepresented in the male elite, but not in the female academies. No relationship was found between RAE and anthropometry in male elite academies. Male elite players showed better anthropometric characteristics than nonelite players, while this pattern of results was not found for female players. The coaches' assessment on players' current performance was not influenced by the chronological age nor anthropometry, but it was linked to the PHV. Coaches from nonelite academies rated better in current assessment of performance the taller players. Our findings suggest that maturity status and RAE play an independent and important role in the talent selection process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honorato J. Ginés
- Doctorate School, Catholic University of Valencia “San Vicente Mártir”, 46008 Valencia, Spain
| | - Florentino Huertas
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia “San Vicente Mártir”, 46900 Torrent, Spain
| | - Tomás García Calvo
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | | | - António J. Figueiredo
- Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, 3004-531 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rafael Ballester
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia “San Vicente Mártir”, 46900 Torrent, Spain
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Gallant F, Murray RM, Sabiston CM, Bélanger M. Description of sport participation profiles and transitions across profiles during adolescence. J Sports Sci 2022; 40:1824-1836. [PMID: 36049044 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2022.2115223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Few studies describe sport participation profiles in the general population using multiple characteristics. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify sport participation profiles during adolescence and to describe transitions across profiles from grades 5 to 12 (age 10 to 18 years). We used data from 916 participants (55% girls; age 10-12 years at inception) of the Monitoring Activities of Teenagers to Comprehend their Habits (MATCH) study. Participants self-reported involvement in 36 organized and unorganized physical activities three times/year from grades 5 to 12 (24 data collection cycles; 2011-2018). At each school grade, we derived four categorical variables of sport involvement: number of organized sports, number of unorganized activities, weekly sessions, and number of year-round activities. To identify sport participation profiles, we used latent class analysis at each grade. To characterize transitions between sport participation profiles across grades, we used latent transition analysis. Five distinct sport participation profiles emerged: "non-participants", "unorganized activities only", "single-sport low frequency", "single sport high frequency", and "multi-sport". Only "multi-sport" participants were unlikely to be classified as "non-participants" over time. Encouraging multi-sport participation might help protect against later non-participation. This study helps identify important times to intervene for improving physical activity levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Gallant
- Départment de médecine de famille et médecine d'urgence, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.,Centre de formation medicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, Moncton, NB, Canada
| | - Ross M Murray
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Catherine M Sabiston
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mathieu Bélanger
- Départment de médecine de famille et médecine d'urgence, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.,Centre de formation medicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, Moncton, NB, Canada.,Vitalité Health Network, Moncton, NB, Canada
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Jung JY. Physical giftedness/talent: A systematic review of the literature on identification and development. Front Psychol 2022; 13:961624. [PMID: 36092065 PMCID: PMC9460770 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.961624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a systematic review was undertaken of the international scholarly literature on the identification and development of giftedness/talent in the physical domain, to establish the scope of current knowledge in the area. To identify relevant research, a search that involved the creation of a search string and the manual examination of the titles and abstracts of potentially relevant research, was conducted using two databases-Web of Science Core Collection and SportDiscus-and six inclusion/exclusion criteria (i.e., relevance to identification or development of physical giftedness/talent, an empirical study, publication in a reputable academic peer-reviewed journal, publication from 2000 to 2021, an English language publication, and authorship by scholars based in any part of the world). The 101 journal articles that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were analyzed for key details, including the year of publication, methodological approaches, participants, and major findings. The five broad themes that emerged from the findings of these articles related to conceptions of physical giftedness/talent, identification characteristics/criteria, factors associated with identification, identification methods, and talent development interventions. An outline and discussion of the key issues and trends in the research, along with some recommendations for future research, conclude the systematic review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Yup Jung
- School of Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Methodological Approaches to Talent Identification in Team Sports: A Narrative Review. Sports (Basel) 2022; 10:sports10060081. [PMID: 35736821 PMCID: PMC9227581 DOI: 10.3390/sports10060081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Talent identification (TID) and talent development (TD) continue to receive significant investment from team sports organisations, highlighting their importance in attempting to identify potential elite athletes. Accompanying this continual pursuit to unearth future talent is an ever-increasing body of research aiming to provide solutions and strategies to optimise TID and TD processes. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide a summary and critical synthesis of the methodological approaches applied to TID in team sports and present considerations for future TID research. Specifically, this review highlights three key areas for consideration: (1) the timespan of the research design; (2) the use of monodisciplinary or multidisciplinary variables; and (3) the fidelity of the methodological approaches to the assessment of talent. The review highlights the benefits of longitudinal, multidisciplinary, and ecologically valid research designs for TID within team sports.
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Farley JB, Woods CT, Keogh JWL, Milne N. Profiling the kicking and handballing accuracy of female Australian football players across five competition levels. SCI MED FOOTBALL 2022; 6:72-81. [PMID: 35236224 DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2021.1882687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To profile the kicking and handballing accuracy of female Australian football (AF) players and investigate potential differences across five competition levels. METHODS Female AF players were classified into five competition levels: elite senior (≥18 years) (n=35), non-elite senior (≥18 years) (n=58), high-level junior (<18 years) (n=32), non-elite junior (14-17 years) (n=38), and non-elite junior (10-13 years) (n=42). Modified AF kicking and handballing tests examined accuracy outcomes. Competition level differences in accuracy were modelled using multivariate analysis of variance. RESULTS A large, significant difference between the competition levels was noted (F=11.508, p<0.001, Wilk's Λ=0.462, η2p=0.227), with significant differences (p<0.001) observed in the modified AF kicking (ω2=0.514) and handballing (η2p=0.150-0.250) tests. Elite seniors and high-level juniors performed the modified AF kicking test more accurately than all non-elite competition levels (p≤0.001). Elite seniors were also more accurate in the modified AF handballing test (dominant hand) compared to all non-elite competition levels (p≤0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to report technical skill characteristics in female AF across a broader participation pathway. These exploratory findings could be used as reference data for player development and inform training designs, namely by incorporating non-dominant handballing competitive play situations to develop this skill in female AF players.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica B Farley
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Carl T Woods
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Justin W L Keogh
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia.,Sports Performance Research Centre New Zealand, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand.,Cluster for Health Improvement, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Australia.,Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Nikki Milne
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia
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Fransen J, Skorski S, Baxter-Jones ADG. Estimating is not measuring: the use of non-invasive estimations of somatic maturity in youth football. SCI MED FOOTBALL 2022; 5:261-262. [PMID: 35077308 DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2021.1975808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J Fransen
- Human Performance Research Centre, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - S Skorski
- Institute of Sport and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
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Larkin P, Woods CT, Haycraft J, Pyne DB. Physical and Anthropometric Characteristics Do Not Differ According to Birth Year Quartile in High-Level Junior Australian Football Players. Sports (Basel) 2021; 9:111. [PMID: 34437372 PMCID: PMC8402445 DOI: 10.3390/sports9080111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore differences in the physical fitness and anthropometric profiles between birth year quartiles of players attending the Australian Football League (AFL) National Draft Combine. Date of birth, anthropometric, 20 m sprint, vertical and running vertical jump, AFL planned agility, and 20 m Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MSFT) data were obtained for players selected to attend the Combine between 1999 and 2019 (n = 1549; Mage = 18.1; SDage = 0.3). The underlying density distributions of the data were visually explored using violin plots overlaid with box and whisker plots. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was then used to model the main effect of birth quartile (four levels) on the physical and anthropometric scores. Results showed that physical and anthropometric test scores did not significantly differ according to birth quartile (V = 0.008, F = 0.880, p = 0.631). We conclude that the physical and anthropometric profiles of high-level junior Australian Football players were similar according to birth year quartile across the modeled period. Therefore, how players utilize their physical and anthropometric attributes during game-play via contextualized, representative assessments, such as small-sided games, should be considered when examining potential causes of a RAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Larkin
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia; (C.T.W.); (J.H.)
- Maribrynong Sports Academy, Melbourne, VIC 3032, Australia
| | - Carl T. Woods
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia; (C.T.W.); (J.H.)
| | - Jade Haycraft
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia; (C.T.W.); (J.H.)
| | - David B. Pyne
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia;
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Navarro-Patón R, Arufe-Giráldez V, Sanmiguel-Rodríguez A, Mecías-Calvo M. Differences on Motor Competence in 4-Year-Old Boys and Girls Regarding the Quarter of Birth: Is There a Relative Age Effect? CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 8:141. [PMID: 33668429 PMCID: PMC7917671 DOI: 10.3390/children8020141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences on motor competence between boys and girls aged 4 years old and investigate the existence of Relative Age Effect on their motor competence. In total, 132 preschool children were evaluated, of whom 60 (45.50%) were girls and 72 (54.5%) were boys. The distribution of the participants was from quarter 1 [n = 28 (21.2%)], quarter 2 [n = 52 (39.4%)], quarter 3 [n = 24 (18.2%)], and quarter 4 [(n = 28 (21.2%)], respectively. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to collect the data. The data show the main effects on quarter of birth factor in manual dexterity (MD; p < 0.001), in aiming and catching (A&C; p < 0.001), in balance (Bal; p < 0.001) and in total test score (TTS; p < 0.001). There are also statistical differences on gender factor in MD (p < 0.001) and in TTS (p = 0.031). A significant effect was also found in the interaction between two factors (gender and quarter of birth) in MD (p < 0.001), A&C (p < 0.001), and Bal (p < 0.001). There are differences in all the variables studied according to the quarter of birth and only in manual dexterity and in the total score if compared according to gender (the scores are higher in girls).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Navarro-Patón
- Facultad de Formación del Profesorado, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27001 Lugo, Spain;
| | - Víctor Arufe-Giráldez
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Universidad de A Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Alberto Sanmiguel-Rodríguez
- Facultad de Lenguas y Educación, Universidad Camilo José Cela, 28692 Madrid, Spain;
- Facultad de Lenguas y Educación, Universidad Nebrija, 28015 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcos Mecías-Calvo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Industrial de Cantabria (CITICAN), 39011 Santander, Spain
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