In:
International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, SAGE Publications, Vol. 18, No. 4 ( 2023-08), p. 994-1002
Abstract:
The importance of considering information related to athletes’ biological maturation within talent identification and development processes is frequently emphasized by both sport scientists and practitioners. Although there is evidence for the use of objective diagnostics for assessing biological maturation, little is known about its subjective determinations by coaches. Such approaches are particularly relevant when scientific support is limited. Therefore, the current study aimed to compare a practical subjective approach (coaches’ eye) to assess biological maturity timing (BMT) with objective reference diagnostics (MRI). For this purpose, data were collected from 63 male elite soccer players of the U12 and U14 age group who were part of the German talent promotion program. Players’ BMT (i.e., skeletal – chronological age) was assessed by MRI and a subjective rating of two coaches. Data analyses revealed high-rank correlations ( r s = .55; p 〈 .001) for the total sample as well as for U14 players ( r s = .65; p 〈 .001) and moderate rank correlations for U12 players ( r s = .42; p 〈 .05). Single case analyses showed substantial agreements between the diagnostics. However, particularly for U12 players, judgements did not always correspond with the MRI rankings. Although coaches seem to have the ability for recognizing the earliest and latest maturing players in the sample, inconsistencies exist in single cases, especially for players that were identified on-time by objective MRI diagnostics. Although utilizing subjective coach assessments as an alone-standing tool to assess a player's BMT is not recommended in applied practice, its use can be beneficial when applied in addition to common objective diagnostics or in circumstances where objective data are not available.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1747-9541
,
2048-397X
DOI:
10.1177/17479541231152820
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2237333-0
SSG:
31
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