Ghent Youth Soccer Project

Talent identification

Growth and maturation

Age effects in soccer

Ghent Youth Soccer Project

Development of a

Multidisciplinary Talent Identification and Training Model

in Youth Soccer

Purposes GYSP

1. Training model in youth soccer during adolescence: problem of maturation

2. Talent identification: multidisciplinary

Multidusciplinary model

Psychological Sociological

SOCCER TALENT

Morphological Physiological Technical

Performance related characteristics

Talent identification

Detection

Identification

SelectionDevelopment

Sample and design

mean age (years)

test year

12 13

1996

1997

N = 160

14 15 16

2000

1999

1998

N = 139

N = 141

N = 128

N = 97133

96

74

65

Sample and design

-12 -13 -14 -15 -16

mixed-longitudinal 75 158 173 143 116

cross-sectionial 82 104 42 49 68

total number 157 262 215 192 184

total number of players tested: 665 total number of observations: 1086

Psychological Sociological

SOCCER TALENT

Morphological Physiological Technical

• Height and weight

• 10 skinfolds

• Breadth measurements

• Circumferences

• Skeletal maturation (TW2)

• Secundary sexual characteristics (Tanner stages)

Psychological Sociological

SOCCER TALENT

Morphological Physiological Technical

• EUROFIT• Aërobic endurance

– treadmill

• Anaërobic endurance and power– Shuttle tempo

– Van de Walle test

• Speed (and agility)– 30 m sprint

– 5x10 m Shuttle sprint

• Strength– VTJ, CMJ

– Isokinetic en isometric (BIODEX)

Psychological Sociological

SOCCER TALENT

Morphological Physiological Technical

• Slalom dribbling test• Accuracy of shooting• Accuracy of passing (lob)• Juggling

• Competition level:national, provincial, local

• Field position

Psychological Sociological

SOCCER TALENT

Morphological Physiological Technical

• Sport Interpersonal Relationship Q(Wylleman et al., 2000)

• Task and Ego Oriëntation in Sport S(Duda, 1989)

• Intrinsic Motivation Inventory(McAuley et al., 1989)

• Self Description Q II(Marsh, 1990)

• Sources of Sport-Confidence Q(Vealey et al., 1998)

• Perceptual skills and decision making

1. Do soccer players grow earlier and faster?2. Soccer players: early or late mature?3. Physical characteristics in relation to

PHV?

I. Problem of maturation?

Morphological maturation: PHV

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Chronological age (years)

Ve

locit

y (

cm

/ye

ar)

early mature

average maturelate mature

1. Do soccer players grow earlier and faster?

age

cm/year

example: Height

age

cm/year

mean age at peak velocity

example: Height

Height and weight

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

-18 -12 -6 PHV 6 12 18

Months from PHV

He

igh

t (c

m/y

ea

r)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

-18 -12 -6 PHV 6 12 18

We

igh

t (k

g/y

ea

r)

height

weightAPHV = 13.8 years

Question 1:

Do soccer players grow earlier and faster than their peers?

Answer 1:

earlier: probablyfaster: NO !

CL=12.0 jaar

SL=9.0 jaar

Height=143.1 cm

CL=12.6 jaar

SL=13.5 jaar

Height=165.0 cm

2. Soccer players: early or late mature?

10.5 jaar 17.5 jaar

National level

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Chronological age (years)

Sk

ele

tal ag

e (

ye

ars

)

?

Provincial level

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Chronological age (years)

Sk

ele

tal a

ge

(ye

ars

)

?

Local level

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Chronological age (years)

Ske

leta

l a

ge

(ye

ars

)

?

Question 2:

Soccer players: early or late mature?

Answer 2:

on average early mature

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Chronological age (years)

Ve

locit

y (

cm

/ye

ar)

3. Physical characteristics in relation to PHV?

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

-18 -12 -6 PHV 6 12 18

Months from PHV

He

igh

t (c

m/y

ea

r)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

-18 -12 -6 PHV 6 12 18

We

igh

t (k

g/y

ea

r)

age

cm/year

example: Standing Broad Jump

age

cm/year

mean age at peak velocity

example: Standing Broad Jump

Explosive strength

0,0

2,0

4,0

6,0

8,0

10,0

12,0

-18 -12 -6 PHV 6 12 18

Months from PHV

SB

J cm

/ye

ar

0,0

1,0

2,0

3,0

4,0

5,0

6,0

VT

J cm

/ye

ar

SBJ

VTJ

Speed

-1,00

-0,50

0,00

0,50

1,00

1,50

2,00

-18 -12 -6 PHV 6 12 18

Months from PHV

sec/

yea

r SHR SSPRINT

30m SPRINT

Aërobic and anaërobic endurance

-0,50

0,00

0,50

1,00

1,50

2,00

-18 -12 -6 PHV 6 12 18

Months from PHV

ES

HR

min

/ye

ar

0,00

0,50

1,00

1,50

2,00

2,50

3,00

3,50

4,00

ST

EM

PO

se

c/ye

ar

ESHR

STEMPO

Flexibility

-0,50

0,00

0,50

1,00

1,50

2,00

2,50

3,00

-18 -12 -6 PHV 6 12 18

Months from PHV

cm

/ye

ar

SAR

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Chronological age (years)

Ve

locit

y (

cm

/ye

ar)

3. Physical characteristics in relation to PHV?

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

-18 -12 -6 PHV 6 12 18

Months from PHV

He

igh

t (c

m/y

ea

r)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

-18 -12 -6 PHV 6 12 18

We

igh

t (k

g/y

ea

r)

Aërobic and anaërobic endurance

Strength and Speed Flexibility

II. Talent identification: multidisciplinary

Detection

Identification

SelectionDevelopment

Aërobic endurance

Variable Age National Provincial Local Diference

ESHR (min) -12 7.9 ± 0.9 8.0 ± 0.7 7.2 ± 1.3 n.s.

-13 8.6 ± 1.5 8.1 ± 1.6 7.7 ± 1.4 N><G

-14 9.6 ± 1.4 9.2 ± 1.0 8.2 ± 1.4 N,P><G

-15 10.7 ± 1.2 9.5 ± 1.4 8.7 ± 1.6 N><P><G

-16 10.9 ± 1.5 10.3 ± 2.1 8.9 ± 1.7 N,P><G

Aërobic endurance: VO2max

Variable Age National Provincial Local Diference

VO2max -12 55.9 ± 7.0 60.2 ± 4.8 53.9 ± 5.8 P><G

(ml/kg/min) -13 57.0 ± 4.6 57.2 ± 6.8 53.1 ± 4.6 N,P><G

-14 57.3 ± 5.7 56.8 ± 4.3 53.2 ± 4.9 N,P><G

-15 59.5 ± 4.9 56.5 ± 4.0 53.4 ± 6.3 N,P><G

-16 57.4 ± 4.6 56.1 ± 4.2 54.7 ± 3.3 N><G

Anaërobic endurance:

Shuttle Tempo

Variable Age National Provincial Local Diference

STEMPO -12 77.4 ± 4.8 72.3 ± 2.4 80.1 ± 5.4 P><G

(sec) -13 75.1 ± 4.4 76.0 ± 5.7 78.0 ± 4.6 N><G

-14 72.4 ± 3.6 74.4 ± 4.4 76.4 ± 5.4 N><G

-15 70.1 ± 4.0 73.0 ± 6.0 74.8 ± 6.0 N><G

-16 67.6 ± 3.7 69.3 ± 3.6 72.1 ± 4.6 N><G

Speed

Variable Age National Provincial Local Difference

30 m (sec) -12 4.5 ± 0.2 4.5 ± 0.3 4.8 ± 0.3 N,P><G

-13 4.4 ± 0.2 4.5 ± 0.2 4.6 ± 0.2 N><P,G

-14 4.3 ± 0.2 4.3 ± 0.2 4.6 ± 0.3 N,P><G

-15 4.1 ± 0.2 4.2 ± 0.2 4.4 ± 0.3 N,P><G

-16 3.9 ± 0.2 4.0 ± 0.2 4.1 ± 0.2 N><G

Speed

Variable Age National Provincial Local Difference

SSPRINT -12 14.5 ± 0.5 15.0 ± 0.8 15.5 ± 0.9 N><G

5 x 10 m -13 14.5 ± 0.8 15.3 ± 0.8 15.1 ± 0.6 N><P,G

(sec) -14 14.3 ± 1.1 14.9 ± 0.9 14.9 ± 0.9 N><P,G

-15 13.9 ± 0.7 14.6 ± 1.0 14.4 ± 1.0 N><G

-16 13.6 ± 0.9 14.1 ± 0.8 14.1 ± 0.6 N><P

Strength

Variable Age National Provincial Local Difference

VTJ (m) -12 32.4 ± 4.5 34.1 ± 5.3 30.0 ± 5.0 ns

-13 33.7 ± 4.8 32.9 ± 5.1 30.6 ± 4.4 N><G

-14 37.0 ± 5.1 37.0 ± 4.4 34.3 ± 5.4 N,P><G

-15 40.4 ± 4.7 40.0 ± 5.3 35.7 ± 5.7 N,P><G

-16 44.8 ± 5.0 45.5 ± 5.8 40.0 ± 6.5 N,P><G

Flexibility

Variable Age National Provincial Local Difference

SAR (cm) -12 19.3 ± 5.4 17.6 ± 5.3 19.0 ± 5.5 n.s.

-13 19.1 ± 6.1 18.3 ± 6.7 18.6 ± 5.0 n.s.

-14 20.4 ± 6.1 18.0 ± 6.9 18.1 ± 6.2 n.s.

-15 21.9 ± 7.3 17.3 ± 8.3 17.3 ± 6.3 N><P,G

-16 22.8 ± 6.9 19.8 ± 8.2 15.5 ± 7.8 N><G

Slalom dribble

Variable Age National Provincial Local Difference

Dribbling -12 19.2 ± 1.6 19.0 ± 1.4 20.8 ± 2.1 N><G

(sec) -13 18.1 ± 1.5 18.8 ± 2.2 19.5 ± 1.9 N><G

-14 17.4 ± 1.6 17.8 ± 1.1 19.3 ± 2.4 N,P><G

-15 17.2 ± 1.3 17.4 ± 1.2 19.2 ± 2.2 N,P><G

-16 16.5 ± 1.3 17.4 ± 0.8 17.5 ± 1.1 N,P><G

Anthropometry

Variable Age National Provincial Local Difference

Height (cm) -12 147.7 ± 6.8 148.4 ± 6.3 145.9 ± 6.7 n.s.

-13 151.8 ± 6.4 152.1 ± 6.0 153.6 ± 7.4 n.s.

-14 158.2 ± 9.3 160.4 ± 7.6 159.8 ± 8.8 n.s.

-15 167.0 ± 9.2 168.9 ± 7.1 167.4 ± 8.8 n.s.

-16 172.0 ± 7.4 174.5 ± 8.5 174.1 ± 7.7 n.s.

P10 P25 P50 P75 P90

Height (cm) 161.3 167.0 173.1 177.7 182.2

Weight (kg) 47.7 52.9 57.7 64.7 70.9

Sum 5 skinfolds (mm) 17.5 26.1 31.2 39.6 47.7

Example: Duarte, age -16

Sit and Reach (cm) 10.0 15.9 20.5 26.0 31.0

10 x 5 m SHR (sec) 21.3 19.9 18.9 17.9 17.4

Endurance SHR (min) 6.5 8.0 9.5 11.0 12.0

Dribbling (sec) 19.2 18.0 16.9 15.9 15.4

www.bvlo.be

The effects of task constraints on visual search behaviour and decision-making skill in youth soccer players

Roel Vaeyens, Matthieu Lenoir, Mark Williams,

Liesbeth Mazyn & Renaat Philippaerts

(Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2005, submitted)

Test tactical skills

• Universal:film clips of simulated soccer actionslab: projection on life-size screen

• Decision taking: open offensive situations2 vs 13 vs 13 vs 24 vs 35 vs 3

RT: general vs soccer specific

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

control local national topGroup

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Mean decision time per group and situation

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

2 vs 1 3 vs 1 3 vs 2 4 vs 3 5 vs 3Situation

Tij

d (m

sec)

controllocalnationaltop

Response accuracy per group and situation

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2 vs 1 3 vs 1 3 vs 2 4 vs 3 5 vs 3Situation

%controllocalnationaltop

1,8

1,9

2

2,1

2,2

2,3

2 vs 1 3 vs 1 3 vs 2 4 vs 3 5 vs 3Situations

fixa

tions

/sec

non-soccerregionalsub-eliteelite

Mean number fixations/sec per group and situation

0,25

0,3

0,35

0,4

0,45

2 vs 1 3 vs 1 3 vs 2 4 vs 3 5 vs 3

Situation

mea

n fi

xati

on d

urat

ion

(sec

)

non-soccer regional

sub-elite elite

Mean fixation duration per group and situation

010203040506070

Location Zone

% V

iewi

ng T

ime non-soccer regional sub-elite elite

Fixation location: 3 vs 1

05

101520253035404550

Fixation Location

% V

iew

ing

Tim

e

non-soccer regional sub-elite elite

Fixation location: 5 vs 3

II. Talent identification: multidisciplinary

Detection

Identification

SelectionDevelopment

Selection of younger players in 1st team?

The Belgian caseEvaluation of the ‘under-21 rule’ Do young

adult (U-21) soccer players benefit?

Roel Vaeyens – Renaat Philippaerts

Ghent University

Dept. Movement and Sports Sciences

Methods

• Official match data from Royal Belgian Football Association

• 2e national (D2) + 3e national A (D3)• 4 seasons

– 1998-1999– 1999-2000– 2000-2001– 2001-2002

• 53 teams – 2138 players

Team selections conform -21 rule (%)

0

20

40

60

80

100

percentage

season

2e nationale 67,8 84 97,1 96,1

3e nationale A 76 93,7 99 99,4

1998- 1999 1999- 2000 2000- 2001 2001- 2002

Means (± SD) of number of selections and playing minutes per player and per season (D2)

Season

Agegroup

98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02

Selections U21 13.6 ± 10.5 12.5 ± 10.4 13.0 ± 10.9 12.8 ± 11.0

21+ 23.1 ± 9.6 22.6 ± 10.5 22.7 ± 9.3 23.1 ± 9.5

Minutes U21 732.2 ± 840.1 605.6 ± 804.0 672.4 ± 830.6 620.5 ± 845.9

21+ 1637.4 ± 942.2 1646.9 ± 1019.2 1625.6 ± 908.6 1669.0 ± 923.0

Conclusions

• Teams in conformity with the U-21 rule• Rather large variation within and between teams• No increase in playing opportunities for young adult

players in 1st team• Solutions:

– change in mentality of trainers-coaches, clubs

– better youth education programme