Prediction of talent in youth soccer players: prospective study over 4-6 years

抄録

Many recent studies have investigated talent identification in soccer players; however, no clear results have been reported due to the lack of prospective research designs. Moreover, the issue is complicated by large differences in individual biological maturation rates. The present study investigated the index of talent identifi cation for youth soccer players in career development. Sixty-two adolescent soccer players participated in this study. They were divided into professional, collegiate, and regional players based on their performance level at 18 years of age. Height, weight, skeletal age, stepping speed, endurance, and choice reaction time (hand: HRT, foot: FRT and hand-foot-complex: CRT) were measured. CRT was signifi cantly faster in professional players and collegiate players compared with regional players. The mean values of body weight, height, and CRT tended to be higher for professional players than collegiate players, albeit statistically insignificant. Our findings suggest that adolescent soccer players with faster CRT should be identified as potential professional players.