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Background: In volleyball, the upper limb dimensions and grip strength greatly influence offensive and defensive movements during a match. However, the relationship between these parameters remains underexplored in elite female volleyball players. Objective: This study aimed to contrast the upper limb anthropometric characteristics and handgrip strength (HGS) of female elite volleyball players against a control group. Methods: Selected upper limb anthropometric parameters and maximal HGS of 42 female volleyball players and 40 non-athletes were measured. Results: Players exhibited higher values in almost all variables studied than non-athletes. The differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001) except for body mass index and elbow and wrist diameters. Players showed a moderate correlation between dominant HGS and hand parameters (length r = 0.43 and breadth r = 0.63; p < 0.05). Weak correlations were identified with height, upper arm length, elbow diameter, and hand shape index (r = 0.32 to 0.38; p < 0.05). In the non-dominant hand, a moderate correlation with handbreadth (r = 0.55, p ≤ 0.01) and weak correlations with upper arm length, wrist diameter, hand length, and hand shape index (r = 0.32 to 0.35; p ≤ 0.05) was found. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of the upper limb anthropometric parameters as predictors of HGS and their utility in athlete selection. Future research should investigate biomechanical factors influencing HGS and injury prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

When making talent-selection decisions in sport, coaches, scouts, program directors, and policymakers typically adopt two approaches: The subjective approach, also known as the coach's eye, where these professionals select or de-select athletes based on their personal observations and impressions; and the objective approach, where they apply a multi-faceted formula for awarding scores to the athletes' motor skills (such as agility and coordination) and psychological capabilities (such as leadership and motivation) – as a mean for predicting their future success. These two approaches are often perceived as complementary in the strive to reach optimal selection decisions in sport. In this conceptualized article, we examine challenges associated with such talent-selection decisions, and address the coach's eye as an example of a subjective assessment approach. We also address the concept of fast and frugal heuristics for making selection decisions in sport, while elaborating on bounded rationality and the human machine paradigm. Finally, in addition to discussing certain ''built-in'' limitations in sport-selection decisions, based on judgment and decision-making models, we provide a rationale for adding the big-data approach, as a mean for enhancing links between the subjective and objective assessments currently used in talent-selection decisions in sport.

The study investigates relative age effects (RAE) in German youth soccer (Youth Bundesliga A: January 2004 to December 2005 and B: January 2006 to December 2007; highest league in German youth soccer) and its persistence in third-division players. Data from the 2022–2023 season (120 teams, 3,174 players) were analyzed using chi-square tests. Significant RAE was found in the A-series (p < .001), B-series (p < .001), and third-division professionals (p < .001). Notably, RAE was prominent among younger players but less evident in older third-division players (p = .116), indicating a diminishing selection effect with age and professional tenure. Coaches and talent managers are advised to consider RAE and additional factors like player maturity in talent selection for more efficient talent management strategies, especially in youth academies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have provided empirical evidence on the prognostic relevance of test batteries and the “coach’s eye” for talent identification. The aims were 1) to compare objective and subjective assessments as well as a combined soccer-specific potential index between future selected and non-selected players and 2) to evaluate the prognostic validity of a multidimensional model as a tool for talent identification in soccer. The sample was composed by 132 male players (14,5 ± 1,4 years; regional competitive level) from U13 to U17 age groups of a Brazilian soccer talent development program. Athletes completed a multidimensional test battery and were subjectively rated by their coaches for sporting potential. Players’ success was evaluated five years later and was operationalized by achieving under-20 category of the Brazilian Championship or adult professional level (success rate, 15.9%). Confirming univariate prognostic validity, future selected outperformed non-selected players regarding 20-m sprint (p = .009), agility (p = .04), countermovement jump (p = .04), sit-and-reach (p = .001), Yo-Yo IR1 (p = .001), dribbling (p < .001), perceived competence (p = .007), peaking under pressure (p = .01), confidence/motivation (p = .03), coping skills (p = .03), intangibles (p < .001) and player potential (p < .001). A combined index (objective tests, athlete’s assessments and coach’s eye) named Gold Score Soccer (GSS) showed high prognostic validity (p < .001). A binary logistic regression estimated the probability of success (yes/not) with GSS, ambidextrous and predicted age at peak height velocity as predictors. This multidimensional model named GoldFit Soccer showed high prognostic validity (sensitivity = 85.7%; specificity = 83.8%; accuracy = 84.1%; area under the ROC curve = .93 [.87–.98]). Thus, GoldFit Soccer is a valid multidimensional scientific model for talent identification in soccer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When making talent-selection decisions in sport, coaches, scouts, program directors, and policymakers typically adopt two approaches: The subjective approach, also known as the coach's eye, where these professionals select or de-select athletes based on their personal observations and impressions; and the objective approach, where they apply a multi-faceted formula for awarding scores to the athletes' motor skills (such as agility and coordination) and psychological capabilities (such as leadership and motivation) - as a mean for predicting their future success. These two approaches are often perceived as complementary in the strive to reach optimal selection decisions in sport. In this conceptualized article, we examine challenges associated with such talent-selection decisions, and address the coach's eye as an example of a subjective assessment approach. We also address the concept of fast and frugal heuristics for making selection decisions in sport, while elaborating on bounded rationality and the human machine paradigm. Finally, in addition to discussing certain "built-in" limitations in sport-selection decisions, based on judgment and decision-making models, we provide a rationale for adding the big-data approach, as a mean for enhancing links between the subjective and objective assessments currently used in talent-selection decisions in sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined the relationship among countermovement jump (CMJ), football category, chronological age, relative age, and pubertal development status to investigate which parameter could be better associated with jumping performance. We tested 259 young male football players (14.9 ± 1.8 yrs; 169.7 ± 9.8 cm; 60.6 ± 11.3 kg; 20.9 ± 2.6 kg m−2) belonging to elite football academies. One-sample chi-square tests were used to test the uniformity of distributions of the proportions of players in each year quarter (relative age effect, RAE) for the whole sample and stratified for each football age category (U14, U15, U17, and U19). One-way ANOVAs were used to test the associations among a) categories, RAE, and CMJ, and b) the pubertal status category and CMJ. Pearson's correlation assessed the relationship among variables. The birth distribution among the year's quarters significantly differed from the expected proportion of 25 % of participants each quarter (χ2 = 41.74; p

Objective Talent acquisition for start-up businesses is a crucial concept that can lead to several significant problems such as market share decline if overlooked. The situation worsens when start-up businesses decide to keep pace with digital developments and start incorporating digitalization into their talent acquisition strategies. For this purpose, the current research sought to provide a framework for talent acquisition in start-up businesses, focusing on talent recruitment, selection, and onboarding in the digital platform. Methodology The research adopted a qualitative approach, more precisely a multiple-case study design. This strategy sought to understand the research problem in depth and to generate rich experiences from participants. Twenty purposely selected managers and specialists from four purposely selected information technology start-up businesses that are experts in the field were involved. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with an analysis based on thematic analysis conducted in three stages. Findings Following the interviews, the data was coded in three stages, leading to the extraction of three general categories consisting of basic themes, organizing themes, and comprehensive themes. The final stage of research coding identified ten key themes for talent acquisition in startups, including: taking an aggressive approach to talent acquisition, creating a strong employer brand, managing relationships with talents, identifying risks in talent selection, designing selection criteria and methods, determining selection quality, setting onboarding timelines, and developing learning methods and content for onboarding. Conclusion Drawing from the identified themes, this study proposes three digitalization-driven strategies to enhance talent acquisition in startups: talent recruitment, talent selection, and onboarding processes. In talent recruitment, aligning strategy with digital transformation to attract a diverse talent pool is crucial. Implementing an agile selection system using technology is recommended for talent selection while updating onboarding processes for agility is vital in the onboarding phase. Finally, a conceptual model presenting final strategies and comprehensive themes was developed as a framework for talent acquisition in start-up businesses, emphasizing the importance of having a structured approach to talent management. A talent acquisition framework is an important step for startups because it helps them in their digital recruitment strategy, enabling their productivity to be better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of birthplace (the place where a player is born and grows up) is one of the key variables associated with soccer player development and achievement. However, recent studies have questioned the influence of contextual variables on selection and promotion processes related to birthplace. The main purposes of this study were: (1) establish whether there is a difference between the birthplace and sporting growth according to the stages of entry into the academy, (2) to evaluate the influence of geographical and contextual variables on sporting development, and (3) assess the chances of making a professional team debut. Applied logistic regression was used in order to analyse the birthplace and growth of 1411 male soccer players, of which 40.1% are incorporated in the U-12 category from a Spanish First division club, and the results showed a statistically significant association between a change from one's birthplace to the place of sporting growth and later success (79%). Key contextual variables such as number of inhabitants, population density, proximity to sports facilities, average household income and presence of sports clubs have been considered. The analysis of the contextual variables revealed that there was a positive relationship between certain variables, like a higher population, and being selected for the academy (p < 0.01; r = 0.28). Finally, the findings showed that players who experienced a geographical transition were 38% more likely to make a professional debut. The importance of considering the place of sporting growth when analysing the "birthplace effect" has therefore been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During puberty, the biological maturity of children of the same chronological age differs. To generate equal opportunities for talent selection in youth sports, the athlete's biological maturity should be considered. This is often assessed with a left hand and wrist radiography. Alternatively, ultrasound (US) could be advantageous, especially by avoiding ionizing radiation. This pilot study aimed to assess intrarater and interrater reliability of an experienced and a non-experienced examiner in an US-based examination of the knee in 20 healthy females (10–17 years). Epiphyseal closure at five anatomical landmarks was staged (stages 1–3) and its interrater and intrarater reliabilities were analyzed using Cohen's kappa (k). Interrater reliability of the calculation of the ossification ratio (OssR) was analyzed using the Bland-Altman method and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Interrater reliability for the stages was almost perfect for four landmarks. Interrater reliability ranged from k = 0.69 to k = 0.90. Intrarater reliability for the stages was almost perfect for four landmarks. Intrarater reliability ranged from k = 0.70 to k = 1.0. For the OssR, ICC was 0.930 and a minimal detectable change of 0.030 was determined. To conclude, experienced and non-experienced examiners can reliably assign individuals to different ossification stages and calculate an OssR using US-based imaging of the knee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates relative age effects (RAE) in German youth soccer (Youth Bundesliga A: January 2004 to December 2005 and B: January 2006 to December 2007; highest league in German youth soccer) and its persistence in third-division players. Data from the 2022–2023 season (120 teams, 3,174 players) were analyzed using chi-square tests. Significant RAE was found in the A-series (p

Background: In volleyball, the upper limb dimensions and grip strength greatly influence offensive and defensive movements during a match. However, the relationship between these parameters remains underexplored in elite female volleyball players. Objective: This study aimed to contrast the upper limb anthropometric characteristics and handgrip strength (HGS) of female elite volleyball players against a control group. Methods: Selected upper limb anthropometric parameters and maximal HGS of 42 female volleyball players and 40 non-athletes were measured. Results: Players exhibited higher values in almost all variables studied than non-athletes. The differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001) except for body mass index and elbow and wrist diameters. Players showed a moderate correlation between dominant HGS and hand parameters (length r = 0.43 and breadth r = 0.63; p < 0.05). Weak correlations were identified with height, upper arm length, elbow diameter, and hand shape index (r = 0.32 to 0.38; p < 0.05). In the non-dominant hand, a moderate correlation with handbreadth (r = 0.55, p ≤ 0.01) and weak correlations with upper arm length, wrist diameter, hand length, and hand shape index (r = 0.32 to 0.35; p ≤ 0.05) was found. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of the upper limb anthropometric parameters as predictors of HGS and their utility in athlete selection. Future research should investigate biomechanical factors influencing HGS and injury prevention.

Recent technological developments, such as automatic broadcasting systems and computer vision, are enabling cost-effective data gathering, bringing big data analytics to youth sports. In a recent insightful article, Bar-Eli et al. (2023) discussed among other issues the subjective and objective talent selection approaches, advocating for the use of big data analytics to harness the benefits of both methods. My aim in this commentary is to complement that big data predictive tools also were found to be vulnerable to biases that render their decisions unfair. Therefore, artificial intelligence in the domain of youth talent identification should be approached with caution and in-depth consideration of ethical issues needs to be undertaken before these predictive tools can be widely adopted.

Copyright of PODIUM- Revista de Ciencia y Tecnologia en la Cultura Física is the property of Universidad de Pinar del Rio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of International Journal of Contemporary Educational Studies (IntJCES) is the property of International Journal of Contemporary Educational Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The maturation process has a great influence on the anthropometric factors and physical capabilities of the athlete, and therefore, on the selection process of sporting talents. The objective of this work was to analyze the maturational state and anthropometric characteristics together with the comparison of these data by sex in a sample of 39 young volleyball players within a talent selection process (19 ladies of 14.88±1. 05 years old and 13 males aged 15.1 years). Data were obtained on chronological age, height, weight, sitting height, height of the mother and father, peak age of growth, timing or period of time above or below the peak age, height at the end of the process. maturation, the current percentage of maximum height, the remaining centimeters and the maturation status (pre-pubertal, pubertal or post-pubertal). The players showed a greater height at the time of the measurements (179.92±6.87 vs. 171.05±4.80; p<0.001), as well as a greater final calculated height (189.46±3.73 vs. 178.52±5.17; p<0.001), compared to the female players. The peak in growth speed was also higher in male players (14.56±0.44 vs 12.60±0.57; p<0.001), although their timing was lower than that of female players (0.531±1.19 vs 2.27±0.64; p<0.001). This was due to a higher percentage of male players in pubertal states, including one player in a pre-pubertal stage, while the presence of female players in a post-pubertal stage was abundant. These data reflect the large number of players who tend to be in advanced periods of maturation in talent selection processes. Therefore, coaches and selectors must consider these variables to avoid biases in the process of identifying sporting talent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper situates talent identification research in sport science within the broader context of developmental science, offering a conceptual framework informed by two (meta-)theoretical worldviews: the Cartesian-split-mechanistic and processual-relational worldviews. Al-though these worldviews are not explicitly named in the field of talent identification research, we demonstrate their implicit adoption through theoretical and methodological discourse. After comparing applications, benefits, and limitations of each worldview, we briefly discuss whether their bodies of knowledge are incompatible, competitive, or complementary. We suggest each worldview provides complementary insights with a penchant for generating nomothetic and group-specific and type-specific and idiographic knowledge, respectively.

Introduction829 players from 32 nations on five continents participated in the 2022 men's World Cup tournament in Qatar. Not much is known about the youth careers of World Cup players from all over the world, especially about the age at which they began playing youth soccer in a professional academy. This study aimed to provide insights in the age national team players participating in World Cup Qatar 2022 started playing for a professional soccer academy and whether their starting age relates to continent and their current playing position (i.e., goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards).MethodSystematic online desk research was conducted to determine the age at which World Cup players started playing for professional youth soccer organizations. The median and interquartile ranges were expressed for the starting age in professional youth soccer organizations and the current age at the World Cup. The variables were compared with playing position, the continent of the player's World Cup nation, and the continent on which the player was raised.ResultsThe results reveal that World Cup Qatar 2022 players started playing for professional soccer academies at a median age of 13.2 years (range: 4.2–22.6). In Europe, players started playing for professional youth soccer organizations earlier than players on other continents [χ2 (4) = 142.0, p

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Copyright of Mediterranean Journal of Sport Science (MJSS) is the property of Mediterranean Journal of Sport Science (MJSS) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Body morphology, due to its simple applicability, is used to help coaches make decisions during the process of identifying and selecting talent in sports. Objective: to analyze the discriminative kinanthropometric patterns of young Brazilian athletes in different sports. Methods: We evaluated 83 young males (age: 13.1 ± 2.4), 60 of whom were athletes (16-soccer, 11-tennis, 20-swimming, and 13-rowing) and 23 non-athletes (Control group). We evaluated the kinanthropometric profile by dual-energy x-ray emission absorptiometry and by anthropometry. Subsequently, through algorithms programmed in “R” language, a discriminant model was created based on the circumference variables: biceps, hips, waist, and leg; the bone diameters of the humerus and femur, and the components of body composition: total lean mass, total fat mass, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, triceps skinfold, and body adiposity index. Results: Discriminant model was able to discriminate soccer athletes in 93.8% (F:32.098; p=0.000), tennis athletes in 81.8% (F:24.060; p=0.0004), rowing athletes in 80% (F:28.031; p=0.0001), swimming at 100% (F:41.899; p

Abstract Background Relative age effect (RAE) is a concept related to the possible advantage that older athletes would have over younger ones within the same category. Although many studies have approached this subject in individual sports, there are few clippings by events within the sport. More detailed analyses are necessary for a better understanding of how RAE behaves in sports, especially in athletics, the subject of this study. The objective of this study was to analyze the RAE on speed in track and field events as a whole, separating the flat races from the hurdles races. Methods The Brazilian Ranking of Brazilian Athletics Confederation was used for data analysis, and the sample was composed of the 50 best-placed marks in the ranking of speed events in athletics in the categories Under(U)-16 and U-18 (female and male). Statistical analysis was calculated by chi-square, and the effect size was checked by Cramer’s V. Likelihood-ratio test (L-Ratio) assessed the probability of the RAE occurring in the total sample and by age groups. Results In the total sample the results pointed to the emergence of RAE in males in both categories (U-16: p

The effect of birthplace (the place where a player is born and grows up) is one of the key variables associated with soccer player development and achievement. However, recent studies have questioned the influence of contextual variables on selection and promotion processes related to birthplace. The main purposes of this study were: (1) establish whether there is a difference between the birthplace and sporting growth according to the stages of entry into the academy, (2) to evaluate the influence of geographical and contextual variables on sporting development, and (3) assess the chances of making a professional team debut. Applied logistic regression was used in order to analyse the birthplace and growth of 1411 male soccer players, of which 40.1% are incorporated in the U-12 category from a Spanish First division club, and the results showed a statistically significant association between a change from one’s birthplace to the place of sporting growth and later success (79%). Key contextual variables such as number of inhabitants, population density, proximity to sports facilities, average household income and presence of sports clubs have been considered. The analysis of the contextual variables revealed that there was a positive relationship between certain variables, like a higher population, and being selected for the academy (p < 0.01; r = 0.28). Finally, the findings showed that players who experienced a geographical transition were 38% more likely to make a professional debut. The importance of considering the place of sporting growth when analysing the “birthplace effect” has therefore been demonstrated.

Objective: To assess the discriminative ability of several fitness dimensions and anthropometric attributes for forecasting competitive success in female karate athletes. Methods: Fitness and anthropometric data from 98 female junior karatekas obtained during the training camps of the Spanish National Karate Federation between 1999 and 2012 were used. Binary logistic-regression models were built to ascertain whether the set of fitness and anthropometric variables could predict future sporting-performance levels. For this purpose, participants were classified as elite (medalist in World or European Championships in the senior category) or subelite (at least a medalist in Spanish National Championships in cadet or junior but not included in the elite group), according to the results achieved up to 2019. Results: Participants who were subsequently classified as elite karatekas showed significant differences in agility, upper- and lower-body muscle power, and general fitness in comparison with those who were classified as subelite in the senior category. A total of 57 junior female karatekas who were subsequently classified as elite (7) or subelite (50) were included in the binary logistic-regression analysis. Resultant models showed significant capacity to predict karate performance. Conclusions: Assessing physical fitness in junior categories can be a useful resource to determine future karate success. Coaches in this sport should pay special attention to the levels of muscle power and agility shown by their athletes, as both fitness dimensions could be indicators of future sportive success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper situates talent identification research in sport science within the broader context of developmental science, offering a conceptual framework informed by two (meta-)theoretical worldviews: the Cartesian-split-mechanistic and processual-relational worldviews. Although these worldviews are not explicitly named in the field of talent identification research, we demonstrate their implicit adoption through theoretical and methodological discourse. After comparing applications, benefits, and limitations of each worldview, we briefly discuss whether their bodies of knowledge are incompatible, competitive, or complementary. We suggest each worldview provides complementary insights with a penchant for generating nomothetic and group-specific and type-specific and idiographic knowledge, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable talent identification and selection (TID) processes are prerequisites to accurately select young athletes with the most potential for talent development programmes. Knowledge about the agreement between scouts who play a key role in the initial TID in football is lacking. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the agreement within four groups of a total of n = 83 talent scouts during rank assessment of under-11 male youth football players (n = 24, age = 11.0 ± 0.3 years) and to describe scouts' underlying approach to assess talent. Krippendorff's α estimates indicated disagreement of scouts' rankings within all groups of scouts (αA = 0.09, αB = 0.03, αC = 0.05, αD = 0.02). Scouts reported relying mainly on their overall impression when forming their final prediction about a player. Reportings of a consistent, structured approach were less prevalent. Taken together, results indicated that different approaches to TID may be associated with disagreement on selection decisions. In order to overcome disagreement in TID, football organisations are encouraged to establish a more structured process. Future research on the elaboration and benefit of ranking guidelines incorporating decomposed and independently evaluated sub-predictors is recommended to improve the reliability of TID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to understand the attributes youth coaches and talent scouts perceive as important when identifying skilled youth basketball players. Youth coaches and talent scouts (n = 40) from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and United States with an average of 14.09 (±9.77) years of experience completed an online questionnaire. The questionnaire asked participants to rank and justify attributes for identifying potentially talented youth basketball players according to their perceived importance. In addition, five youth coaches and talent scouts completed a semistructured interview that elaborated on how they identify these attributes in national-level youth players. Results from the questionnaire indicate a hierarchy of attributes coaches/scouts perceive as important for youth basketball performance, including tactical (i.e., decision-making ability), technical (i.e., layup, shooting in the paint, jump shot, rebounding), and psychological attributes (i.e., composure, concentration, adaptability). In addition, the results from the interviews provided more detailed justification for the importance of these attributes within the talent identification process. It is believed talent scouts apply a holistic multidisciplinary approach to talent identification, with the current findings potentially providing evidence to suggest coaches/scouts consider a wide range of tactical, technical, psychological, and physical attributes when identifying youth players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Spor Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Spor Bilimleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Soccer Science / Revista Brasileira de Futebol is the property of Revista Brasileira de Futebol and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Prescrição e Fisiologia do Exercício is the property of Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Ensino em Fisiologia do Exercicio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Relative age effect (RAE) is a concept related to the possible advantage that older athletes would have over younger ones within the same category. Although many studies have approached this subject in individual sports, there are few clippings by events within the sport. More detailed analyses are necessary for a better understanding of how RAE behaves in sports, especially in athletics, the subject of this study. The objective of this study was to analyze the RAE on speed in track and field events as a whole, separating the flat races from the hurdles races. Methods: The Brazilian Ranking of Brazilian Athletics Confederation was used for data analysis, and the sample was composed of the 50 best-placed marks in the ranking of speed events in athletics in the categories Under(U)-16 and U-18 (female and male). Statistical analysis was calculated by chi-square, and the effect size was checked by Cramer's V. Likelihood-ratio test (L-Ratio) assessed the probability of the RAE occurring in the total sample and by age groups. Results: In the total sample the results pointed to the emergence of RAE in males in both categories (U-16: p < 0.001; V: 0.13; L-Ratio: 3.64, U-18: p < 0.001; V: 0.13; L-Ratio: 3.80), whereas in females no such effect was found in any category (U-16: p = 0.6; V: 0.09; L-Ratio: 0.09, U-18: p = 0.6; V: 0.07; L-Ratio: 0.12). When the results were separated by type of event, there was only a RAE in the shallow event in the U-18 female category (p = 0.3; V: 0.11; L-Ratio: 8.72). Conclusion: The results allow us to conclude that there is a RAE in the speed trials of Brazilian athletics in the U16 and U18 categories for men, while this effect appears only in the shallow trials of the U18 category for women, indicating that the RAE has incidence when there is more participation and competition in the sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research purpose. The purpose of this study is to verify if there are significant differences between different anthropometric and jumping ability variables by testing two groups of elite and amateur volleyball players (under 16) after having submitted the two groups to the same training protocol performed 4 times a week for 4 months. Materials and methods. The study was carried out on 24 volleyball players divided into two groups. The following anthropometric and jumping ability parameters were assessed in all subjects: height, weight, body mass index, height with a stretched arm and height with two extended arms. The jumping ability measurement was carried out with the Vertec jump test. Results. The results of the anthropometric parameters showed significant differences between the two groups on all the variables considered: in height (p = 0.00), in weight (p = 0.00), in Vertec attack with a stretched arm, AH1 (p = 0.00) and in Vertec wall with two outstretched arms, AH2 (p = 0.01). The results of the jumping ability parameters showed significant differences between the two groups (elite and amateur): in Vertec Wall, VW (p = 0.00) and Vertec Attack with run-up, VA (p = 0.00); and a high correlation was shown for both the groups. Conclusions. Above all, in high-level youth volleyball, the anthropometric and jumping ability profile is directly linked to the evaluation; training and continuous monitoring of physical qualities and jumping ability become an important aspect for the control of performance and the possibility of selecting talented players.

Recent technological developments, such as automatic broadcasting systems and computer vision, are enabling cost-effective data gathering, bringing big data analytics to youth sports. In a recent insightful article, Bar-Eli et al. (2023) discussed among other issues the subjective and objective talent selection approaches, advocating for the use of big data analytics to harness the benefits of both methods. My aim in this commentary is to complement that big data predictive tools also were found to be vulnerable to biases that render their decisions unfair. Therefore, artificial intelligence in the domain of youth talent identification should be approached with caution and in-depth consideration of ethical issues needs to be undertaken before these predictive tools can be widely adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance is the property of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to investigate the existence of relative age effect (RAE) in male Brazilian futsal athletes according to age categories and playing position. Data from male futsal athletes from the top five teams in Brazil were collected during May and June 2021. The distribution of birth dates of 387 male futsal athletes was analyzed, based on their age categories (U15, n = 97; U17, n = 88; U20, n = 116; senior, n = 86) and playing positions (defender, n = 76; winger; n = 162; pivot, n = 69; goalkeeper, n = 80). Chi-squared tests were used to analyze the birth dates distribution based on quarter and semesters of the year according to age categories and playing positions. The overall analysis of birth quarter indicated a higher occurrence of births in the first quarter of the year (p<.001; V = 0.188). The age categories analysis indicated a uniform distribution in U15 (p=.09; V = 0.15) and unequal distributions in U17 (p<.001; V = 0.29), U20 (p<.007; V = 0.19) and senior (p<.01; V = 0.21) categories. The playing position analysis indicated a uniform distribution for the pivots (p=.11; V = 0.17) and unequal distribution for goalkeepers (p<.04; V = 0.19), wingers (p<.002; V = 0.19) and defenders (p<.002; V = 0.27). We concluded that RAE was present in Brazilian elite men's futsal, especially in the U17, U20, and senior categories, and goalkeepers, wingers, and defenders. Our results reinforce the need to consider the effects of relative age in the development of Brazilian elite futsal players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athletes born closer to an arbitrary cut-off date are more likely to reach an elite level in sport, which is supported by a phenomenon called the relative age effect (RAE). It is important to determine whether this phenomenon is present in a sport to minimize this selection bias. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of RAE in elite volleyball athletes, considering the influence of gender, the playing position (Setter, Middle, Libero, Opposite, and Outside Hitter) and the performance level (attack points, aces, and block points). The sample comprised 203 male and 193 female athletes competing in the Superliga A in the 2020/2021 season, which was equivalent to all of the teams of the championship. The data collection was performed during May and June, 2021. Athletes were organized according to gender, the playing position, and performance in the Superliga. For performance variables, athletes were separated based on the median value (90.0), and classified as high- or low-performance. Chi-squared tests were performed to verify differences between birth date distributions in relation to the aforementioned variables. Results indicated overrepresentation of relatively older male athletes (Q1 = 35.96%; Q2 = 27.59%; Q3 = 19.21%; Q4 = 17.24%), especially in Middles, Opposites, and Outside Hitters, regardless of their performance level. Considering females, no differences were found. Our findings suggest that RAE operates differently for men and women in elite Brazilian volleyball. The characteristics of the games played by male and female elite athletes may lead to different talent selection processes, affecting the likelihood of RAE prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is a way to solve a problem that has been presented for several years, on the selection of sports talent in the province of Santi Espíritus, not only in a single category but in the different categories of swimming at provincial and national level: the selection of talent is the most important indicator in swimming and in the different sports without it there would not be high results in competitions, however, despite its importance this is a little researched aspect in the sports sphere of swimming, so this work aims: Systematize the theoretical and methodological aspects of the selection of swimming talent with the intention, since this sport is paramount in the triathlon to go out in the first group of swimming in competitions and a good final result. Experiential Experiential, Historical-Logical and Synthesis Analysis methods were used in this research. This work is useful for swimmers and especially for coaches, both in swimming and triathlon, I know that they will be able to use this document as a working tool or as reference material. Thus, it was concluded that when a proper selection occurs, once the athletes captured for the national team can improve their results from the comparison with reality and that these athletes go to international events the results in swimming are far away and the career of these athletes is lousy, therefore, it is insisted on making a good selection of talents in swimming to be in the elite in the sport of triathlon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implications of relative age grouping in sport are known as the Relative Age Effect (RAE). This study has the twofold purpose of analyzing RAE in Spanish youth national soccer teams and examining the prediction value of being selected for national youth teams to be a professional. The sample was composed of 548 players divided into five groups. A descriptive analysis of distribution and participation, frequencies, mean and standard deviation, crosstabs, Sankey charts, coefficient correlation and Cohen's effect size criteria and two regression analyses were performed. Results established that the RAE is present in U'17 to U'21 Spanish youth national teams. Talent detection and selection programs are more reliable the closer they are to adulthood, reaching a success rate of almost 100% at the U'21 stage. The selection of players for such programs should be delayed as much as possible, thus, preventing younger players from dropping out and those selected from thinking they have already reached their goal. To this end, they should focus on long-term improvement, not short-term performance. In addition, factors such as the RAE or the maturity level of the athletes should be monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

拔尖创新人才的培养问题广受关注, 我国在该领域开展了诸多有益实践, 尤其是高等教育阶段已形成 各具特色的拔尖人才培养模式。通过对中国科学技术大学少年班、西安交通大学少年班、北京大学元培学 院、清华大学钱学森力学班和深圳零一学院的人才选拔与培养经验进行探索性案例研究, 分析得出当前我国 拔尖创新人才教育凸显多元化选拔、进阶式培养和理解性支持的特色。面向拔尖创新人才培养的迫切需求, 要从选拔、培养和支持服务等方面为人才提供适合的成长途径与发展环境, 拓宽人才选拔视野, 重视人才早 期培养, 并通过政策保障特色化育人实践. The cultivation of top innovative talents has been widely concerned. China has carried out many useful practices in this field, especially at the higher education level, which has formed various distinctive talent cultivation models. This study summarizes and analyzes the experience of selecting and cultivating talents in the Special Class for the Gifted Young at the University of Science and Technology of China, the juvenile class of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Yuanpei College of Peking University, Tsien Excellence in Education Program of Tsinghua University, and Xinstitute of Shenzhen. It concludes that the cultivation of top innovative talents in China emphasizes characteristics of diversified selection, progressive cultivation, and understanding support. In order to meet the urgent needs of cultivating top innovative talents, it is necessary to provide suitable growth paths and development environments for talents in terms of selection, cultivation, and support services, to broaden the vision of talent selection, to pay attention to their early cultivation, and to guarantee characteristic cultivation practices through policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined the relationship among countermovement jump (CMJ), football category, chronological age, relative age, and pubertal development status to investigate which parameter could be better associated with jumping performance. We tested 259 young male football players (14.9 ± 1.8 yrs; 169.7 ± 9.8 cm; 60.6 ± 11.3 kg; 20.9 ± 2.6 kg m -2 ) belonging to elite football academies. One-sample chi-square tests were used to test the uniformity of distributions of the proportions of players in each year quarter (relative age effect, RAE) for the whole sample and stratified for each football age category (U14, U15, U17, and U19). One-way ANOVAs were used to test the associations among a) categories, RAE, and CMJ, and b) the pubertal status category and CMJ. Pearson's correlation assessed the relationship among variables. The birth distribution among the year's quarters significantly differed from the expected proportion of 25 % of participants each quarter ( χ 2  = 41.74; p  < 0.001), highlighting the presence of a relative age effect. Results indicate that age significantly influences CMJ ( F (6,231)  = 8.85, p  < 0.001, η 2 p  = 0.187), and a significant interaction effect (age × birth quarter) was found. Coaches, strength and conditioning trainers, and scouts should be aware of physical and biological players' maturation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Copyright of International Journal of Medicine & Science of Physical Activity & Sport / Revista Internacional de Medicina y Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte is the property of Revista Internacional de Medicina y Ciencias de la Actividad Fisica y del Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rodrigues Lopes, RA, Aoki, MS, Carling, C, Vaz Ronque, ER, and Moreira, A. Do changes in fitness status, testosterone concentration, and anthropometric characteristics across a 16-month training period influence technical performance of youth soccer players during small-sided-games? J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1404–1409, 2022—This study examined the influence of changes in physical capacity, testosterone concentration, and anthropometric characteristics across a 16-month training period on technical performance of youth players during small-sided games (SSG). Thirty-five elite youth players (14.3 ± 0.2 years, 170 ± 6.2 cm, and 61 ± 6 kg) were assessed on 3 occasions (T1, T2, and T3) over the period. A multivariate canonical correlation (MCC) was used to assess the multiple associations between the criterion variable (SSG technical performance) and the predictor variable (physical capacity represented by the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 [Yo-Yo IRT1], testosterone concentration, and anthropometric characteristics). Changes between T1 and T3 were retained for MCC analysis. Multivariate canonical correlation analysis revealed 2 significant functions (R 2 = 0.42 and 0.36) indicating a significant relationship between predictor and criterion variables. Changes in Yo-Yo IRT1 performance were the main contributor to the predictor variable, whereas the frequency of tackles/interceptions contributed mostly to the criterion variable (SSG technical performance). These results showed that technical performance in SSG was influenced by changes in Yo-Yo IRT1 performance, suggesting the importance of monitoring in conjunction, intermittent exercise capacity, and technical performance in SSG in youth soccer players. In addition, the stability in technical performance during SSG observed over the experimental period suggests that practitioners could use SSG as a tool for systematic real-world monitoring of technical performance rather than isolated practice drills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Spor Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Spor Bilimleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)