2.  What is talent identification and
development?
 Current methods
 Results
 Limitations
 Implications
 Further research
 Conclusions

4.  The process of Such as:
identifying promising  Anthropometry
young talent and  Physiology
accelerating its  Psychology
progress  Sociology
 Usually achieved by  Physical and motor abilities
assessing a number of  Game specific skills
variables via a battery  Injury epidemiology
of tests  Training history
 Match experience
 Perceptual cognitive skills

5. Fig. 1. Key stages in the talent identification and development process
(adapted from Williams and Franks, 1998).

6.  The talent is exposed
to specialised
coaching and
training
 Providing the most
appropriate learning
environment to
realize their potential
 Giftedness Talent

7.  Anthropometry
 Physiology
 Psychology
 Sociology
 Physical and motor abilities
 Game specific skills
 Injury epidemiology

8.  Current methodology can identify
talented youth athletes
 Combination of cross sectional and
longitudinal methods
 Multi dimensional approach becoming
more widely used
 No consensus of current methods and
there effectiveness

9.  Relative Age Effect (RAE) factor
 Variation in assessment
 Models for identification
 Maturation factors
 Dynamic nature of talent and its
development

10.  Variety of testing methods = accurate
assessment
 Psychological profiling and support
 Sociological support
 Genetic and injury history
 Measurement of maturation level
 Long term approach to testing and
monitoring measures

11.  long term development measured in
progress rather than performance
 longitudinal process that also combines
elements of the cross sectional design
 Investigating the effect of maturation on
talent identification
 Effect of long term talent identification
on female athletes

12.  Multi dimensional approach
 Sport specific testing
 Monitor progress, rather than
performance
 Further scientific research

13. Le Gall, F., Carling, C., Williams, M., & Reilly, T. Anthropometric and fitness
characteristics of international, professional and amateur male
graduate soccer players from an elite youth academy. Journal of
Science and Medicine in Sport,2010, 13: 90-95.
Meylan, C., Cronin, J., Oliver, J., & Hughes, M. Talent Identification in Soccer:
The Role of Maturity Status on Physical, Physiological and Technical
Characteristics. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching.
2010, 5 (4): 571-592.
Schorer, J., Baker, J., Büsch, D., Wilhelmz, A., & Pabst, J. Relative age, talent
identification and youth skill development: Do relatively younger
athletes have superior technical skills? Talent Development & Excellance
technical skills. 2009, 1 (1): 45-56.
Spamer, E. J. Talent identification and development in youth rugby players:
A research review. South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical
Education and Recreation, 2009, 31 (2): 109-118.
Vaeyens,R.,Lenoir, M., Williams, A.M. and Philippaerts,R. M.Talent
Identification and Development Programmes in Sport Current Models
and Future Directions. Sports Medicine, 2008, 38 (9): 703-714.
Williams, A.W. & Reilly, T. Talent identification and development in soccer.
Journal of Sports Sciences, 2000, 18, 657-667.