Talent Identification and Development in Youth Soccer A Guide for Researchers and Practitioners

1. Disciplinary Approaches and Chapter Summaries:

Introducing Talent Identification and Development in Youth Soccer

Adam L. Kelly

2. Technical:

Examining Subjective and Objective Performance Parameters that Contribute Towards Developmental Outcomes and Career Progression

Adam L. Kelly, Jan Verbeek, James H. Dugdale, and Matthew J. Reeves

3. Tactical:

Measuring and Developing Tactical Knowledge and Performance in Youth Soccer Players

Adam L. Kelly, Mark R. Wilson, and Greg Wood

4. Physical:

Considering the Influence of Maturity Status on Physical Performance

John M. Radnor, Adam L. Kelly, Craig A. Williams, and Jon L. Oliver

5. Psychological:

Supporting Psychosocial Growth, Development, and Potential Challenges Experienced in Youth Soccer

James H. Dugdale, Alban C. S. Dickson, Alex Murata, Adam L. Kelly, and Kacey C. Neely

6. Social:

Investigating Social Influences on Talent and Development in Soccer

Colin D. McLaren, Mark W. Bruner, Luc J. Martin, Adam L. Kelly, Achuthan Shanmugaratnam, and Mathieu Simard

7. Sociocultural:

Reflecting on the Social and Cultural Influences on Talent in Soccer

Matthew J. Reeves, Simon J. Roberts, and Adam L. Kelly

8. Activities and Trajectories:

Exploring Pathways of Athlete Development in Youth Soccer

Alex Murata, Alexander B. T. McAuley, Matthew P. Ferguson, Martin R. Toms, and Adam L. Kelly

9. Career Transitions:

Navigating Players from Youth Team to First Team

Sofie Kent, Robert Morris, and Adam L. Kelly

10. Relative Age Effects:

Looking Back and Moving Forward

Adam L. Kelly, Laura Finnegan, Kevin Till, and Kristy L. Smith

11. Playing-Up and Playing-Down:

Conceptualising a ‘Flexible Chronological Approach’

Adam L. Kelly, Daniel E. Goldman, Jean Côté, and Jennifer Turnnidge

12. Creativity:

Creating Supportive and Enriching Environments

Sara Santos, Diogo Coutinho, Adam L. Kelly, Sergio L. Jiménez Sáiz, Alberto Lorenzo Calvo, and Jaime Sampaio

13. Transformational Coaching:

Developing a Global Rating Scale to Observe Coach Leadership Behaviours

Jordan S. Lefebvre, Adam L. Kelly, Jean Côté, and Jennifer Turnnidge

14. Genetics:

Understanding the Influence and Application of Genetics in Soccer

Alexander B. T. McAuley, Joseph Baker, Bruce Suraci, and Adam L. Kelly

15. Nutrition:

Optimising Development and Performance Through Nutrition

Matthew North, Adam L. Kelly, Jennie Carter, Lewis Gough, and Matthew Cole

16. International Perspectives:

Evaluating Male Talent Pathways from Across the Globe

Adam L. Kelly, Chris Eveleigh, Fynn Bergmann, Oliver Höner, Kevin Braybrook, Durva Vahia, Laura Finnegan, Stephen Finn, Jan Verbeek, Laura Jonker, Matthew P. Ferguson, and James H. Dugdale

17. Gender:

Disentangling Talent Identification and Development in Women’s and Girls’ Soccer

Stacey Emmonds, Adam Gledhill, Adam L. Kelly, and Matthew Wright

18. Para-Soccer:

Emphasising the Complex and Multidimensional Factors When Identifying and Developing Players with Disabilities

John W. Francis, Dave Sims, Adam Bendall, Adam L. Kelly, and Andrew Wood

19. The Goalkeeper:

Highlighting the Position Data Gap in Talent Identification and Development

Durva Vahia and Adam L. Kelly

20. Language Games:

Improving the Words We Use in Soccer Research and Practice

Joseph Baker, Adam L. Kelly, Alexander B. T. McAuley, and Nick Wattie

21. The COVID-19 Pandemic:

Rethinking Directions for Talent Development in Youth Soccer

Alysha D. Matthews, Meredith M. Wekesser, Karl Erickson, Scott Pierce, and Adam L. Kelly

22. From Knowledge to Action:

Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice in Youth Soccer

Adam L. Kelly and Jennifer Turnnidge

Biography

Adam L. Kelly, PhD, is Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for Sports Coaching and Physical Education at Birmingham City University, United Kingdom. Alongside attaining his PhD at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, Adam is Senior Fellow of the HEA, BASES Sport and Exercise Scientist, and FA UEFA A and AYA Licenced Coach. Broadly, his research interests explore organisational structures in youth sport to better understand the athlete development process and to create more appropriate settings. He is currently collaborating with a number of regional, national, and international organisations across a range of sports, including cricket, rugby, soccer, squash, and swimming.