Unveiling Athletic Talents: Exploring the Selection Process for Young Wrestlers in Armenian Sports Schools

We read with interest the recent article written by Goto, Morris & Nevill: 'Match Analysis of U9 and U10 English Premier League Academy Soccer Players using a Global Positioning System: Relevance for Talent Identification and Development'. In summary, the authors reported time motion analysis data from match-play showing that players who were retained by their Academy covered a significantly greater distance overall and in low-speed running in comparison to peers who were released. Consequently, the authors discussed their results in the context of talent identification and development processes. In light of their findings and discussion, it is of our opinion that further debate in the context of the current body of literature is necessary.

Bidaurrazaga-Letona, I, Lekue, JA, Amado, M, and Gil, SM. Progression in youth soccer: Selection and identification in youth soccer players aged 13-15 years. J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2548-2558, 2019-The aim of this study was to identify the factors that are important for the identification and selection of young soccer players. Ninety-four adolescent soccer players from the under-13 (U13; age = 12.3 ± 0.3 years; n = 50) and under-15 (U15; age = 14.0 ± 0.2 years; n = 44) categories belonging to a professional club participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements, physical tests (sprint, agility, endurance and jump), and maturity status (age at peak height velocity) were recorded over 4 seasons. Comparisons were performed among new players joining the club (Enter players, n = 15), players progressing to the next age category (Club players, n = 54), and players leaving the club (Deselected players, n = 25). A 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine if significant differences existed between groups and testing time. Better physical performance and improvements observed during the season in performance were found to be one of the main factors for U13 players to continue in the club (p < 0.05-0.001). In the U15 group, although body size, maturation and physical performance appeared to be the most important characteristics for being identified to play in the club (p < 0.05), Club players demonstrated better improvements during the season (p < 0.05). Overall, these results indicate that the identification or promotion of players by coaches depends on indicators which are age-dependent. Therefore, this study has shown that the talent identification program was more a selection process than a promotion process, selecting and identifying a posteriori rather than a priori.

Taekwondo is one of the sports in martial arts originating from Korea. Someone who wants to take part in a taekwondo competition usually has to take part in the selection held. The selection process in determining the selection of taekwondo athletes is still having problems. In the field there are still obstacles in the selection of athletes caused by systems that still use manual or conventional methods. Apart from that decision making cannot see the criteria in achievement together. The shortcomings in the athlete selection process are the existence of fraudulent selection of trained athletes, as well as the slow process of determining the assessment of selected athletes. To solve the problem, a decision support system is designed to increase the effectiveness of decision making and produce optimal decisions. In this decision support system the method that can be used is the TOPSIS method. Assessment criteria used as a reference for assessment are technique, tactics, mental, physical, age, reflexes and flexibility. The criteria will be a reference for obtaining the final score.

The basic technique of volleyball itself is one of the most important elements in the game of volleyball, without mastering good basic techniques, the game cannot be played perfectly, the basic techniques of volleyball include serving, passing, smash and block (dam). Based on an interview with Coach at SBV, Kusuma Bhirawa who coaches players at the age of U-18 teenagers, explained that the selection of athletes in participating in the event is carried out according to the coach's feelings during training. After making direct observations at the Kusuma Bhirawa volleyball school with the existing problems, a decision support system will be built for the selection of volleyball athletes using the SAW method. SAW (Simple Additive Weighting) is a method in a decision support system with a weighted summation of the performance ratings of each alternative on all attributes. The alternative that has the highest value is the best alternative proposed. The criteria needed by the SbV trainer Kusuma Bhirawa in anthropometric measurements are height, physical fitness test criteria consisting of 60 m running, 60 sec pull ups, 60 sec sit ups, vertical jump, 1200 m run. volleyball smash technique criteria, passing over, passing down, serving and blocking. From the results of the correlation test that has been tried to get the correlation of the recommendation of the core player list from the application system compared to the player list from the coach with a value of 83.3%. Therefore, these results show that the SAW method has a fairly good correlation when used to determine the selection of volleyball athletes

The study aimed to identify the relationship between health-related physical fitness variable to the holistic development of learners in St. John Parochial School in Tiaong, Quezon. The result shows that there is significant relationship between the student-respondents demographic profile and their holistic development. The student’s age has a positive significant relationship with the emotional attributes. Likewise, positive significant relationship is depicted from student’s grade level and their physical, social, and emotional attributes. Positive significant relationship is also present in the number of days students exercise to the physical and social attributes. However, there is no significant relationship present at student’s gender and BMI to any of their holistic development. Furthermore, there is a positive significant relationship between the health-related physical fitness in terms of cardio-vascular endurance, strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination and student’s holistic development in terms of physical, social, mental and emotional attributes.

Talent identification (TID) within sport provides extensive development opportunities to enhance the potential for senior success. However, little is known about the e&amp;#64256;ectiveness of TID in table tennis. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review is to examine current research and practice in TID in table tennis, identify commonalities, disparities, and gaps in the literature, and provide directions for future research on TID in table tennis. A search of the electronic databases (EBSCOhost, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus) was conducted from September 2023 to March 2025. The search terms utilized represented table tennis, talent, performance, giftedness, and athlete selection. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, 31 articles were thoroughly reviewed. The results established three common themes: morphological qualities , performance profiles , and player characteristics . A key finding established maturation bias as a limitation in talent identification within table tennis, highlighting the importance of maturational assessments in future initiatives. Furthermore, given that most studies used a cross-sectional design, future research should consider longitudinal designs to provide a more accurate assessment of talent and development.&amp;nbsp;

Introduction: Tensiomyography (TMG) is a non-invasive and cost-effective tool that is gaining popularity in fields such as sports science, physical therapy, and medicine. In this narrative review, we examine the different applications of TMG and its strengths and limitations, including its use as a tool for sport talent identification and development. Methods: In the course of crafting this narrative review, an exhaustive literature search was carried out. Our exploration spanned several renowned scientific databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ResearchGate. The materials we sourced for our review included a broad spectrum of both experimental and non-experimental articles, all focusing on TMG. The experimental articles featured varied research designs including randomized controlled trials, quasi-experiments, as well as pre-post studies. As for the non-experimental articles, they encompassed a mix of case-control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies. Importantly, all articles included in our review were written in English and had been published in peer-reviewed journals. The assortment of studies considered provided a holistic view of the existing body of knowledge on TMG, and formed the basis of our comprehensive narrative review. Results: A total of 34 studies were included in the review, organized into three sections: 1) assessing muscle contractile properties of young athletes, 2) using TMG in the talent identification and development process and 3) Future research and perspectives. According to data presented here, the most consistent TMG parameters for determining muscle contractile properties are radial muscle belly displacement, contraction time, and delay time. Biopsy findings from the vastus lateralis (VL) confirmed TMG as a valid tool for estimating the ratio of myosin heavy chain (%MHC-I). Conclusion: TMGs ability to estimate the ratio of %MHC-I has the potential to aid in the selection of athletes with the muscle characteristics best suited for a particular sport, eliminating the need for more invasive procedures. However, more research is warranted to fully understand TMG's potential and its reliability when used with young athletes. Importantly, the use of TMG technology in this process can positively impact health status, reducing the frequency and severity of injuries and the duration of recovery, and subsequently can reduce drop out rates among youth athletes. Future studies should look at twin youth athletes, as a model capable of discriminating between the influence of hereditary factors vs. environmental factors, in therms of muscle contractility and TMG's potential for instance.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the techniques used in the process of identifying and developing young basketball player potential in Chinese basketball schools. The study included a sample of 150 teenage basketball players and coaches who were selected to assess specific criteria for talent identification. These criteria encompassed physical characteristics, technical abilities, tactical understanding, social qualities, work ethic, and contextual elements. The research used a blend of descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including regression analysis, to ascertain the most influential characteristics in predicting the selection of young athletes for development programs. The findings revealed that all the main factors for identifying potential were significant, with work ethic obtaining the highest ranking among sporting participants. The survey showed no notable disparity in the evaluation of credentials depending on gender. However, variations were seen based on the academic year level, namely in the perceived enhancement of skills, with senior athletes displaying a more positive perspective. The efficacy of the current development initiatives was evaluated favorably in all domains, with mental growth achieving the highest success rating. Upon further examination, a notable disparity was found in the efficacy of cognitive growth depending on gender and skills acquisition depending on the academic year. The regression analysis revealed that all criteria, including physical attributes, technical skills, tactical understanding, social attributes, work ethic, and contextual factors, have significant predictive power in determining the selection of young athletes for development programs. Among these criteria, contextual factors emerged as the most influential predictor.

Talent identification in young karate athletes is a crucial phase for optimizing targeted achievement development programs. This study aims to apply the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to establish a priority hierarchy of criteria and sub-criteria in talent development for karate athletes aged 6–12 in West Java Province. This study involved 22 karate experts, consisting of coaches and accomplished athletes, to assess the weighting of three main criteria:antropometer,biomotor, andsomatotype, which were further broken down into 14 sub-criteria. Quantitative data analysis was performed using Expert Choice 11 software. The results of the analysis show that in the domainantropometer, height (0.173) is the indicator with the highest priority. In the biomotor domain, agility (0.225) shows the highest weight value compared to strength, endurance, speed, and flexibility. Meanwhile, in the domainsomatotype, body typologymesomorf(0.418) ranks as the top priority, followed by endomorph (0.379) and ectomorph (0.202). Comprehensively, the criteriasomatotype(34%) made the most significant contribution to the overall talent identification model, followed by biomotor andantropometer.These findings affirm the AHP's capability in developing a systematic and objective talent identification model, which can serve as a strategic guideline for coaches in the selection and development process of potential karate athletes from an early age.

The modern-day landscape of Olympic and Professional sport is arguably more competitive than ever. One consequence of this is the increased focus on identifying and developing early athletic talent. In this paper, we highlight key challenges associated with talent (athlete) identification and development and propose possible solutions that could be considered by research and practice. The first challenge focuses on clarifying the purposes of talent identification initiatives such as defining what talent is and how its meaning might evolve over time. Challenge two centers on ways to best identify, select and develop talent, including issues with different approaches to identification, the need to understand the impact of development and the need to have appropriate resourcing in the system to support continued development of knowledge. Finally, we discuss two challenges in relation to the ‘healthiness’ of talent identification and development. The first examines whether a talent identification and development system is ‘healthy’ for athletes while the second focuses on how sport stakeholders could discourage the apparent trend toward early specialization in youth sport settings. Whilst this paper discusses the research in relation to these challenges, we propose multiple possible solutions that researchers and practitioners could consider for optimizing their approach to talent identification and development. In summary, talent is a complex and largely misunderstood phenomenon lacking robust research evidence, and given concerns that it is potentially unhealthy, talent identification and selection at younger ages is not recommended.

The article provides a theoretical analysis of the main objective and subjective factors influencing the quality and effectiveness of the initial sports selection process in the current conditions of sports development, which will enable the implementation of new approaches to organizing and conducting the recruitment of children to engage in various sports activities. It is determined that sports selection is an important stage in the formation of future champions, and the correct identification of young talents determines not only their athletic development but also their potential achievements on the international stage. The selection process is influenced by a range of factors that interact in a complex manner, creating specific conditions for the successful development of young sportsman. It is established that one of the key factors is motivation towards the chosen kind of sport, which significantly influences a child’s desire to engage in sports over a long period and achieve high sports results. Motivated sportsmen show a willingness to make the most of their opportunities for sports development during the training process, overcome challenges more effectively, and are more driven toward self-improvement, which ultimately contributes to their success in the sports arena. The factor influencing the sports selection process – the health status of the child – has been analyzed, as it directly determines the young sportsman ability to endure physical exertion and participate in training and competitions. Children with strong health have a greater chance of realizing their sport potential, as they can train systematically without the risk of injuries and illnesses. Proper attention to the child’s physical condition enables the effective selection of sportsman with the best prospects for development. The important role of the professional competence of the coaching and teaching staff in the sports selection of young athletes is emphasized, and it is found that highly qualified coaches are capable not only of accurately assessing a child’s potential but also of adapting the training process to their individual needs and abilities, promoting optimal and well-rounded development. Experienced coaches also play a key role in motivating athletes, fostering discipline, and shaping a strong sports culture. Factor of the war in Ukraine is highlighted, which significantly impacts the process of sports selection. It is noted that military actions lead to the destruction of sports infrastructure, limit access to training facilities, reduce financial support for sports, and create serious psychological barriers for children and coaches. However, in some cases, patriotic sentiments can strengthen athletes’ motivation to reach new heights while representing their country on the international stage. It is significance of each identified factor influencing sports selection has been recognized, and their comprehensive impact on the selection of young athletes has been established.

Purpose This study aimed to explore the influence of player’s physical performance and coaches’ efficacy expectations in the talent identification and selection process in international football for people with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods Physical performance (5 m and 30 m sprint, change of direction, and dribbling) was assessed for 44 international CP football players belonging to the Spanish U19 (n = 23) and absolute (n = 21) national teams. The CEE about their players’ performance were assessed for the U19 team. Results Players in the absolute team presented higher physical performance (16.7–47.9%; p = 0.01–0.04). CEEs for U19 players’ general ability to play football and future selection correlated to the players’ change of direction and dribbling abilities and to the coaches’ tactical expectations (r = 0.52–0.69; p &lt; 0.05). The players’ dribbling ability and coaches’ tactical expectations were significant predictors of coaches’ expectations about player’s general ability to play football and to be selected for the absolute team (β = 0.55–0.69, p =0 .01–0.03, R 2 = 30–47%). Conclusion These results may provide important information about the talent identification and selection processes in international CP football.

Talent identification and selection are critical components of competitive sport success. Despite the time, effort, and resources invested, the accuracy of selection decisions remains generally poor. While much of the scholarship in this area has focused on the factors discriminating skilled and less-skilled individuals, limited research exists on what information is used in the decision-making process for athlete selection. The current study seeks to gain a better understanding of the information used by elite distance running coaches when forming judgements for athlete selection. Ten semi-structured interviews with elite distance running coaches from across Canada were transcribed and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. It was interpreted that coaches mainly gather information using their coach’s eye to determine an athlete’s ‘fit’ to the team. Coaches also use more objective information such as race times and movement analyses to assess performance and judge future ‘potential’. As well, the decisions were believed to be influenced by situational considerations at the time of the selection procedure. Specifically, these considerations affecting a coach’s selection included length of time to make a decision, personal limitations in decision-making abilities, and team circumstances. Interestingly, coaches recognized limitations in their selection practices and procedures and discussed some of their personal and system-level biases, highlighting their awareness of potential selection inefficiencies/inaccuracies. Overall, distance running coaches used a variety of techniques to gather information before a selection was made, relying on both subjective and objective information for crafting judgments. Findings are discussed in relation to implications for coaches, sport organizations, and talent identification and selection programs.

Talent identification refers to an early recognition of potential and talent within an individual, although this is not always before maturity. Most people will describe someone who is performing well in sport as talented. Talent scouts and coaches are responsible for spotting gifted athletes to recruit into academies so that they can excel. Scouts often watch performers and offer trials to perceived gifted players. There are many different types of athletic development model, programme and pathway that are used within sport, depending on the sport, in which it is considered there are many ecological factors. Sport-specific development programmes that focus on diversity of sport and physical activities in order to develop top-class sports performers can be constructed on the foundations of the athletic skills model (A.S.M). Athlete selection can be divided into four stages: detection, identification, selection and development, and coaches generally follow this basic process.

Talent identification and development systems (TIDS) adopt a deterministic perspective (i.e. athletes’ future state/performances can be predicted by observations of their initial state/performance), which encourages early identification and specialisation in sport. In this framework, the main aim of sport systems is to enhance predictability and reduce uncertainty, by investigating the causal relationship between entering a talent pathway and becoming an expert performer. Generally, athletes who display ideal body proportions and attain certain performance standards in early developmental stages are labelled as talented (i.e. they display the potential to succeed) and are selected by TIDS, which afford them a superior developmental opportunity (i.e. better training facilities, certified coaching staff, and higher competition levels), to realise their potential. A deterministic approach, thus, (a) sees talent as a fixed capacity, whereby future successful athletes can be identified early (i.e. early identification); and (b) considers entering at an earlier age in a talent pathway a pre-requisite for sporting success (i.e. early specialisation). Contrary to deterministic expectations, recent research has highlighted how being considered talented from the early stages does not guarantee a better likelihood of successfully achieve senior sporting success. In this paper, taking ideas from ecological anthropology, a new probabilistic approach is proposed which considers TIDS as a process (i.e. being talented is about remaining responsive to what you could become), dialogical (i.e. athlete selection and development are not done in isolation, but both influenced by sociocultural constraints), and open-ended (i.e. unpredictability related to future outcomes). If sport systems embrace the uncertainty of developmental pathways opportunities arise to participate in conversations across and within TIDS to support systemic change. We conclude by proposing four key foundations of any probabilistic TIDS: give sport back to kids, ethos of amateurism, delaying selection processes, and early diversification.