Beyond the coaches eye: Understanding the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of maturity selection biases in male academy soccer

Abstract

This study explored academy football coaches’ perceptions and experiences of managing individual differences in the maturity timing of male adolescent football players in an English Premier League academy. Using a longitudinal mixed method design, 98 under 12–16 players were assessed for maturity status, growth velocities, and match performance grade. Interviews with nine respective coaches were conducted in parallel. The qualitative and quantitative data were combined to generate a contextualised richer understanding and four archetypal case studies. Findings showed coaches perceive various advantages and disadvantages to players maturing either ahead or in the delay of their peers and had different expectations of performance based upon a players maturity status; biological maturity status and timing had large implications for selection and release decisions. This study highlights the challenges of developing, managing and selecting adolescent players in elite male youth football. Biological maturation confounds talent identification and development, and academy environments need to monitor maturity status and educate coaches and selectors on the complexities and intricacies of individual differences in maturity timing.