Talent Identification in Iranian Youth Soccer Players Aged between 12 and 16 Years Old Using a Multivariate Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

To determine the applicability of a multivariate test battery in youth soccer players, we made a comparison 
between 45 elite and 51 sub-elite youth soccer players concerning physiological, psychological, 
anthropometrical and technical factors. Some researchers (e.g., Reilly et al., 2000) have also proposed similar 
TI models to be applied on soccer schemes. The players completed the ACSI-28 questionnaire as a 
psychological test. Also, all players performed the FA soccer star tests in order for their technical 
characteristics to be determined. The seven measures in anthropometrical cluster analysis include: height, body 
mass, body fat percentage and four girths (waist, shoulder, mid-thigh, calf). Besides, five tests performed by 
players to determine their physiological characteristics: Vertical jump, sit-ups, 280 meter shuttle run, 10 and 40 
meter sprints. The results of present study demonstrated significant differences between elite and sub-elite 
players in the four measured clusters. A significant difference was also found in age as a covariate. The most 
distinguishing factors, accentuating the importance of speed in TI models, were 40-m sprint and shuttle run 
(among physiological factors), peaking under pressure (among psychological factors) and speed (among 
technical factors).. There were significant differences between U14 and U15 groups in physiological and 
technical factors. Besides, the elite U16 players scored better than their sub-elite peers in psychological and 
technical measurements. The results indicated that a multivariate approach, considering age differences, can 
successfully distinguish elite soccer players from sub-elite players at young ages. 

Keywords

• Talent identification
• Youth Sports
• Performance level
• Age differences

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