Abstract
Using a two-study approach, the main purpose of this case study was to explore the use of a verbal reporting methodology to better understand the thought processes of soccer talent scouts during an in-situ talent identification environment. Study 1 developed a standardized coding-scheme to examine verbal cognitions during a single soccer game. Study 2 then utilized this methodology to examine two full-time recruitment staff trained in the use of concurrent verbal reporting before undertaking a live, in-game task. Participants also participated in a debrief interview following the game. The findings of the two studies suggest that developing a verbal reporting protocol is viable, however when applied in a live-game environment it is problematic. Future research should therefore consider a modified version of this task to further explore the cognitions of scouts whilst observing and identifying potential talent.
Highlights
In professional sports such as soccer, heads of player recruitment and coaches are constantly striving for the most effective methods of identifying and developing potentially talented youth players [1]
This study identified how concurrent verbal reporting was appropriate for use during long-distance running and highlighted how data might be used to inform applied psychology support for endurance runners
The results of this study found that the inter-observer agreement (IOA) for central defender was 0.87 (87%); full back 0.80 (80%); central midfielder 0.84 (84%); left/right midfielder 0.80 (80%) and central/wide attacking player 0.86 (86%)
Summary
In professional sports such as soccer, heads of player recruitment and coaches are constantly striving for the most effective methods of identifying and developing potentially talented youth players [1]. Given the performance advantage a professional soccer organisation can gain over other teams by ‘scouting’ the most talented young players and coupled with the considerable financial rewards potentially on offer, the value of an effective scouting system is evident [2]. Individual players become a valuable human resource [3], which in turn, places considerable importance on the network of talent scouts and recruitment staff who perform the role of identifying and recruiting talented youth players into professional academies. This review, identified that there is a larger predisposition for studying developmental aspects of performance, as opposed to identification processes; possibly due to the inherent difficulties
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