Editorial: Talent Identification and Development in Sports Performance

From Junior to Elite in Soccer: Exploring the Relative Age Effect and Talent Selection in Spanish Youth National Teams

The implications of relative age grouping in sport are known as the Relative Age Effect (RAE). This study has the twofold purpose of analyzing RAE in Spanish youth national soccer teams and examining the prediction value of being selected for national youth teams to be a professional. The sample was composed of 548 players divided into five groups. A descriptive analysis of distribution and participation, frequencies, mean and standard deviation, crosstabs, Sankey charts, coefficient correlation and Cohen's effect size criteria and two regression analyses were performed. Results established that the RAE is present in U'17 to U'21 Spanish youth national teams. Talent detection and selection programs are more reliable the closer they are to adulthood, reaching a success rate of almost 100% at the U'21 stage. The selection of players for such programs should be delayed as much as possible, thus, preventing younger players from dropping out and those selected from thinking they have already reached their goal. To this end, they should focus on long-term improvement, not short-term performance. In addition, factors such as the RAE or the maturity level of the athletes should be monitored.

Common Issues and Differences in Motivational Support and the Effects of Rugby for the U-15 and U-16 National Teams

This study determines the differences in opinion of U-15 (20 boys) and U-16 (29 boys) rugby players from Romanian national teams, regarding motivational support (MS) and the effects/benefits (EB) of the sport. The evaluation questionnaire (based on 21 items with closed answers and 7 items with free answers) was applied between 29 November 2019 and 13 December 2019. The statistical calculation indicates the absence of significant differences between the groups for most items, with the exception of financial motivation (where the U-16 group has a higher score, p < 0.05) and the usefulness of rugby for the population as a variant of active leisure (where the U-15 group has a higher score). However, U-15 athletes are more motivated by the examples of elite players, have increased involvement in terms of passion in training and competitions, and assign high scores to their relationships with the coach and teammates, while U-16 players are more optimistic about self-perceived skills as the basis of success in rugby. The U-15 team is more confident regarding most of the benefits of a rugby game, and those in the U-16 team have superior values in the context of favorable effects on attitude, as well as a better ability to concentrate at the levels of academics and sports. Masculine characteristics, the uniqueness, and physical contact are the main factors of attraction for rugby. Over 56% of the players practiced or practice other sports and sports games, with contact sports being at the top. A total of 96% of players suffered injuries, with the legs and arms being the most affected, but 25% of the U-15 group also suffered injuries to the head, with the main causes being physical contact with opponents and the superficiality of the warm-up. Workouts associated with physical training are the most difficult to bear, and the U-15 group is more bored with routine and monotony. A higher level of physical training/self-perceived fitness is the main strength of players, followed by technical and tactical knowledge.