Abstract
Scouts of soccer clubs are often the first to identify talented players. However, there is a lack of research on how these scouts assess and predict overall soccer performance. Therefore, we conducted a large-scaled study to examine the process of talent identification among 125 soccer scouts. Through an online self-report questionnaire, scouts were asked about (1) the players’ age at which they can predict players’ soccer performance, (2) the attributes they consider relevant, and (3) the extent to which they predict performance in a structured manner. The most important results are as follows. First, scouts who observed 12-year-old and younger players perceived they could predict at older ages (13.6 years old, on average) whether a player has the potential to become a professional soccer player. This suggests that scouts are aware of the idea that early indicators of later performance are often lacking, yet do advise on selection of players at younger ages. Second, when identifying talented players, scouts considered more easily observable attributes, such as technical attributes. However, scouts described these often in a broad sense rather than in terms of specific predictors of future performance. Finally, scouts reported that they assess attributes of players in a structured manner. Yet, they ultimately based their prediction (i.e. final score) on an intuitive integration of different performance attributes, which is a suboptimal strategy according to existing literature. Taken together, these outcomes provide specific clues to improve the reliability and validity of the scouting process.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 994-1004 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | European Journal of Sport Science |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 7 |
Early online date | 29-Apr-2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Keywords
- Scouting
- Soccer
- Talent identification
- Selection psychology
- Football
- Prediction
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How soccer scouts identify talented playersFinal publisher's version, 2.25 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND
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Bergkamp, T. L. G., Frencken, W. G. P., Niessen, A. S. M., Meijer, R. R. (2022). How soccer scouts identify talented players. European Journal of Sport Science, 22(7), 994-1004. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2021.1916081
Bergkamp, Tom L.G. ; Frencken, Wouter G.P. ; Niessen, A. Susan M. et al. / How soccer scouts identify talented players. In: European Journal of Sport Science. 2022 ; Vol. 22, No. 7. pp. 994-1004.
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title = "How soccer scouts identify talented players",
abstract = "Scouts of soccer clubs are often the first to identify talented players. However, there is a lack of research on how these scouts assess and predict overall soccer performance. Therefore, we conducted a large-scaled study to examine the process of talent identification among 125 soccer scouts. Through an online self-report questionnaire, scouts were asked about (1) the players{\textquoteright} age at which they can predict players{\textquoteright} soccer performance, (2) the attributes they consider relevant, and (3) the extent to which they predict performance in a structured manner. The most important results are as follows. First, scouts who observed 12-year-old and younger players perceived they could predict at older ages (13.6 years old, on average) whether a player has the potential to become a professional soccer player. This suggests that scouts are aware of the idea that early indicators of later performance are often lacking, yet do advise on selection of players at younger ages. Second, when identifying talented players, scouts considered more easily observable attributes, such as technical attributes. However, scouts described these often in a broad sense rather than in terms of specific predictors of future performance. Finally, scouts reported that they assess attributes of players in a structured manner. Yet, they ultimately based their prediction (i.e. final score) on an intuitive integration of different performance attributes, which is a suboptimal strategy according to existing literature. Taken together, these outcomes provide specific clues to improve the reliability and validity of the scouting process.",
keywords = "Scouting, Soccer, Talent identification, Selection psychology, Football, Prediction",
author = "Bergkamp, {Tom L.G.} and Frencken, {Wouter G.P.} and Niessen, {A. Susan M.} and Meijer, {Rob R.} and {den Hartigh}, {Ruud J.R.}",
year = "2022",
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language = "English",
volume = "22",
pages = " 994--1004",
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Bergkamp, TLG, Frencken, WGP, Niessen, ASM, Meijer, RR 2022, 'How soccer scouts identify talented players', European Journal of Sport Science, vol. 22, no. 7, pp. 994-1004. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2021.1916081
How soccer scouts identify talented players. / Bergkamp, Tom L.G.; Frencken, Wouter G.P.; Niessen, A. Susan M. et al.
In: European Journal of Sport Science, Vol. 22, No. 7, 2022, p. 994-1004.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - How soccer scouts identify talented players
AU - Bergkamp, Tom L.G.
AU - Frencken, Wouter G.P.
AU - Niessen, A. Susan M.
AU - Meijer, Rob R.
AU - den Hartigh, Ruud J.R.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Scouts of soccer clubs are often the first to identify talented players. However, there is a lack of research on how these scouts assess and predict overall soccer performance. Therefore, we conducted a large-scaled study to examine the process of talent identification among 125 soccer scouts. Through an online self-report questionnaire, scouts were asked about (1) the players’ age at which they can predict players’ soccer performance, (2) the attributes they consider relevant, and (3) the extent to which they predict performance in a structured manner. The most important results are as follows. First, scouts who observed 12-year-old and younger players perceived they could predict at older ages (13.6 years old, on average) whether a player has the potential to become a professional soccer player. This suggests that scouts are aware of the idea that early indicators of later performance are often lacking, yet do advise on selection of players at younger ages. Second, when identifying talented players, scouts considered more easily observable attributes, such as technical attributes. However, scouts described these often in a broad sense rather than in terms of specific predictors of future performance. Finally, scouts reported that they assess attributes of players in a structured manner. Yet, they ultimately based their prediction (i.e. final score) on an intuitive integration of different performance attributes, which is a suboptimal strategy according to existing literature. Taken together, these outcomes provide specific clues to improve the reliability and validity of the scouting process.
AB - Scouts of soccer clubs are often the first to identify talented players. However, there is a lack of research on how these scouts assess and predict overall soccer performance. Therefore, we conducted a large-scaled study to examine the process of talent identification among 125 soccer scouts. Through an online self-report questionnaire, scouts were asked about (1) the players’ age at which they can predict players’ soccer performance, (2) the attributes they consider relevant, and (3) the extent to which they predict performance in a structured manner. The most important results are as follows. First, scouts who observed 12-year-old and younger players perceived they could predict at older ages (13.6 years old, on average) whether a player has the potential to become a professional soccer player. This suggests that scouts are aware of the idea that early indicators of later performance are often lacking, yet do advise on selection of players at younger ages. Second, when identifying talented players, scouts considered more easily observable attributes, such as technical attributes. However, scouts described these often in a broad sense rather than in terms of specific predictors of future performance. Finally, scouts reported that they assess attributes of players in a structured manner. Yet, they ultimately based their prediction (i.e. final score) on an intuitive integration of different performance attributes, which is a suboptimal strategy according to existing literature. Taken together, these outcomes provide specific clues to improve the reliability and validity of the scouting process.
KW - Scouting
KW - Soccer
KW - Talent identification
KW - Selection psychology
KW - Football
KW - Prediction
U2 - 10.1080/17461391.2021.1916081
DO - 10.1080/17461391.2021.1916081
M3 - Article
SN - 1746-1391
VL - 22
SP - 994
EP - 1004
JO - European Journal of Sport Science
JF - European Journal of Sport Science
IS - 7
ER -
Bergkamp TLG, Frencken WGP, Niessen ASM, Meijer RR, den Hartigh RJR. How soccer scouts identify talented players. European Journal of Sport Science. 2022;22(7): 994-1004. Epub 2021 Apr 29. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2021.1916081