A Multidisciplinary Investigation Into the Talent Identification and Development Process in an English Football Academy
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A multidisciplinary investigation into the talent identification and development process in an English football academy Submitted by Adam Leigh Kelly to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sport and Health Sciences in May 2018 This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. Signature: ………………………………………………………….. 1 I. ABSTRACT Introduction The purpose of a player development pathway is to realise the most effective methods to support young individuals to maximise their potential (MacNamara & Collins, 2015). Within a modern football academy setting, the essential developmental characteristics are often termed environmental, psychological, sociological, physiological, technical, and tactical attributes (Sarmento et al., 2018). Although these factors have been explained to independently facilitate the acquisition of expert performance, fully-integrated multidisciplinary evidence from an English context is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was two-fold; firstly, to analyse these respective features to determine what outcomes support greater age-specific performance within the Foundation Development Phase (FDP; under-9 to 11s) and Youth Development Phase (YDP; under-12 to 16s) at an English professional football academy. Following this investigation, this thesis examined what characteristics facilitated age-specific development across two football seasons within the same group. Methods During the first season, a total of 98 outfield academy players (FDP n=40; YDP n=58) participated. Two professional coaches from each age group (n=14) ranked their players from top to bottom in relation to current ability from a holistic perspective. This created a linear classification with a group of ‘high-performers’ (top third) and ‘low-performers’ (bottom third) within both the FDP and YDP. Results were standardised using z-scores and the assumptions were tested using a two-tailed independent samples t-test. A total of 87 outfield players who progressed into the second season were further analysed within their respective phase (FDP n=36; YDP n=51). A combination of 34 holistic factors, that discriminated high- and low-performers in the initial investigation, were measured at two time points across two football seasons with the Participation History Questionnaire (PHQ), Psychological Characteristics for Developing Excellence Questionnaire (PCDEQ), socio-economic status, growth and maturation data, physical performance, technical tests, match analysis statistics, perceptual-cognitive expertise (PCE), and game test situations. Development was measured by comparing the delta change between the overall player profile scores from two seasonal reports. Stepwise regression analyses were conducted to assess the predictive capability of these variables on overall development. Results Multiple factors from environmental, psychological, sociological, physiological, technical, and tactical examinations significantly discriminated high- and low-performers, within both the FDP and YDP. Following these initial findings, developmental results illustrated significant technical and tactical characteristics within the FDP, whilst significant environmental, physiological, technical, and tactical attributes were observed within the YDP. When focussing on these factors combined, total touches change (p=0.023), taking advantage of openings quality (p=0.003), and PCE ‘post’ score change (p=0.029) explained a combined 11.5% of the variance within the FDP. Within the YDP, PCE ‘at’ score (p=0.21), total sports played change (p=0.008), and total match-play hours (p=0.009) explained a combined 34.1% of the variance. Discussion Identifying talented players as young as 8 years of age is a complex and holistic process. Thus, academy coaches and practitioners must understand the significant features, such as practice history and multi-sport engagement, psychological characteristics, socio-economic factors, physical performance abilities, technical attributes, and tactical decision making when identifying and recruiting individuals. From a 2 talent development viewpoint, results from the FDP support the importance of technical and tactical development during middle childhood compared to other influential factors. From a YDP perspective, results support the significance of the environment players are exposed to, whilst also illustrating the importance of PCE as a key ingredient within adolescence, to support greater overall development. Therefore, professional football academies are encouraged to deliver technical and tactical specific developmental activities within the FDP, whilst offering a substantial games programme, alongside other opportunities to participate in multi-sport activities across both age phases, to support superior development. Further evidence is needed within an English context, through collaboration with other academy environments, to support these findings, whilst greater longitudinal data is also required to understand which of these characteristics are necessary to ultimately achieve senior professional status. 3 II. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT There is no doubt in my mind that I would have achieved this accomplishment without the support from many family members, friends, and colleagues. There are certainly too many to mention in a single acknowledgement, therefore I apologise in advance if I do not name everyone; the tributes below are far from conclusive. Firstly, I thank my first supervisor, Prof. Mark Wilson, for his full dedication and persistence to facilitate my academic development. His support has been constant over the last five years; from being my MSc dissertation tutor, helping me secure a fully-funded PhD research scholarship, and supporting the completion of my thesis. I'd also like to give thanks to my second supervisor, Prof. Craig Williams, who has always been there when I've needed him; from both an academic and personal viewpoint. I feel extremely privileged to have been supervised through my PhD by two leading professionals within their respective disciplines. Other University of Exeter colleagues who I'd like to also give special recognition to include Dr. Brad Metcalf and Paul Morgan, whose help is noteworthy as they both provided me with assistance surrounding their specialist knowledge. I’d also like to give thanks to Dr. Paul Ford, Dr. Patrick Belling, Prof. Daniel Memmert, Prof. Dave Collins, and Prof. Paul Ward, for supporting my research through providing relevant research methods and knowledge. I wish to express my warm thanks to my oral examiners, Prof. Dave Collins and Assoc. Prof. Sam Vine, for accepting my invitation to complete my viva voce. As I write this acknowledgement in preparation for my thesis submission, I’m sure they will provide me with a valuable and challenging oral examination in the forthcoming months. This research was co-funded by the University of Exeter, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, the Open Innovation Platform at the University of Exeter, and Exeter City FC Academy; I am very grateful to these organisations for providing financial support. Furthermore, the completion of my research would have not been possible without the young players at Exeter City FC Academy. They have been a delight to work with during this process, and it is heart-warming to see so many players continue to progress as both people and football players. I wish them all the very best of luck in their personal journeys. I'd also like to thank my former colleagues at Exeter City FC Academy; they have not only provided me with tremendous support and assistance during my PhD, but also facilitated my professional development during the seven years I have worked at the football club. From a personal perspective, I'd firstly like to mention my parents, Nicola and Simon. They have dedicated a large part of their life supporting me through their unconditional love and constant blessing throughout my childhood, adolescence, and adulthood as I have attempted various goals and aspirations; I am forever in their debt. Secondly, my siblings Samantha and Bradley, who have been a huge part in building the person I am today and supporting me throughout this process. 4 Next, my four grandparents, Betty & Peter and Hazel & Mike. Since my existence, their love, kindness, and encouragement has been endless. Sadly, Grandad Mike passed away during this doctorate, and although it was with great sadness, his selfless personality remains strong in my mind and has helped me throughout. I'm sure he would have been proud of me during this moment alongside my other Grandparents. Also, my auntie and uncle, Stephanie and Derek, who have been extremely accommodating and supportive guardians. Their wholehearted generosity, loyalty, and commitment to assist me has unquestionably helped and reassured me for the duration of my academic career and beyond. I am very lucky to have such special Godparents. Moreover, my two oldest friends from childhood, Jonathan and Thomas, who are two of the most loyal people you could meet, have provided me with confidence and self-belief through their constant encouragement and support. A special mention must also go to #TheSquad and #TheAeroplaneGang,