The relationships between relative age effect, personality constructs and achievement level in soccer
IntroductionYouth soccer academies are challenged with the constant recruitment process of young talented players to select those who will achieve long-term success as an athlete. Youth soccer academies strive to enhance the physical and technical skill development as well as personality development...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1226599/full |
| _version_ | 1797629533626564608 |
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| author | Sofie Bolckmans Kris Perquy Janet L. Starkes Daniel Memmert Werner F. Helsen Werner F. Helsen |
| author_facet | Sofie Bolckmans Kris Perquy Janet L. Starkes Daniel Memmert Werner F. Helsen Werner F. Helsen |
| author_sort | Sofie Bolckmans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionYouth soccer academies are challenged with the constant recruitment process of young talented players to select those who will achieve long-term success as an athlete. Youth soccer academies strive to enhance the physical and technical skill development as well as personality development of talented players because psychological characteristics play a crucial role in players’ future success in their transition to professional soccer. The least mature players and relatively young players may have a greater need to possess superior technical/tactical or psycho-behavioral skills than those relatively older counterparts because of the higher selection rates of early maturing players. Due to RAEs, a significant decrease in the overall quality of professional soccer teams might be observed because of the loss of talent of physically smaller, but psychologically stronger and more versatile relatively young players who possess proper technical and tactical attributes at an early age. The first objective of this study was to examine any possible relationship between RAE and personality constructs. A second objective was to identify factors and effects that can help in the further improvement of talent selection and equal opportunities for elite youth soccer players based on their underlying RAE. The third objective was to consider the impact of RAE on long-term career development.MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, 151 elite youth soccer players between 15 and 18 years of age were first grouped in birth quartiles. Personality constructs were then assessed, using a combination of observations, interviews, and a self-assessment questionnaire. Next competition level after 8 years was evaluated to identify RAEs, differences in personality characteristics and opportunities to reach professional soccer player status between relatively older vs. younger players.ResultsA clear significant RAE was observed for the whole database (Q1 = 38.4% vs. Q4 = 13.9%) with OR of 2.61 (χ2 = 19.46, p < 0.01, r = −0.85). Relatively young players had higher median scores on personality constructs such as self-confidence (p = 0.04), while relatively old players had higher median scores on personality constructs such as team orientation (p = 0.03). In the long term, more players of the youngest birth quartile were signed as professional players (76.2%), compared with relatively old players (46.6%). 65.0% of the 20 players had the highest total score on personality constructs developed as a professional soccer player, vs. 35.0% of the 20 players with the lowest scores.DiscussionIn conclusion, this study showed not only further evidence of the RAE but also provided evidence supporting “the underdog hypothesis” in national elite youth teams. Relatively young players were also more likely to get higher value senior professional contracts in the long term. We propose that this may be due to the relatively young players developing superior psychological skills and technical expertise to compensate for their early physical disadvantage. This in turn suggests the need for greater awareness of the importance of personality constructs in the future development of youth elite soccer players. Therefore, the crux of the issue is how youth soccer academies elicit the “best of both worlds” ie. moderating RAE whilst also gaining the benefits of the underdog hypothesis by creating the right environment for every player to develop to their full potential in elite youth soccer academies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:54:46Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:54:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj.art-ebf6b225b5a048deaa7ca23d406d02782023-11-13T11:13:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672023-11-01510.3389/fspor.2023.12265991226599The relationships between relative age effect, personality constructs and achievement level in soccerSofie Bolckmans0Kris Perquy1Janet L. Starkes2Daniel Memmert3Werner F. Helsen4Werner F. Helsen5Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, GermanySport Consultancy MP Mental Coaching in Topsport, Sport and Performance Psychologist RBFA, Tubize, BelgiumDepartment of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaInstitute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, GermanyInstitute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumIntroductionYouth soccer academies are challenged with the constant recruitment process of young talented players to select those who will achieve long-term success as an athlete. Youth soccer academies strive to enhance the physical and technical skill development as well as personality development of talented players because psychological characteristics play a crucial role in players’ future success in their transition to professional soccer. The least mature players and relatively young players may have a greater need to possess superior technical/tactical or psycho-behavioral skills than those relatively older counterparts because of the higher selection rates of early maturing players. Due to RAEs, a significant decrease in the overall quality of professional soccer teams might be observed because of the loss of talent of physically smaller, but psychologically stronger and more versatile relatively young players who possess proper technical and tactical attributes at an early age. The first objective of this study was to examine any possible relationship between RAE and personality constructs. A second objective was to identify factors and effects that can help in the further improvement of talent selection and equal opportunities for elite youth soccer players based on their underlying RAE. The third objective was to consider the impact of RAE on long-term career development.MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, 151 elite youth soccer players between 15 and 18 years of age were first grouped in birth quartiles. Personality constructs were then assessed, using a combination of observations, interviews, and a self-assessment questionnaire. Next competition level after 8 years was evaluated to identify RAEs, differences in personality characteristics and opportunities to reach professional soccer player status between relatively older vs. younger players.ResultsA clear significant RAE was observed for the whole database (Q1 = 38.4% vs. Q4 = 13.9%) with OR of 2.61 (χ2 = 19.46, p < 0.01, r = −0.85). Relatively young players had higher median scores on personality constructs such as self-confidence (p = 0.04), while relatively old players had higher median scores on personality constructs such as team orientation (p = 0.03). In the long term, more players of the youngest birth quartile were signed as professional players (76.2%), compared with relatively old players (46.6%). 65.0% of the 20 players had the highest total score on personality constructs developed as a professional soccer player, vs. 35.0% of the 20 players with the lowest scores.DiscussionIn conclusion, this study showed not only further evidence of the RAE but also provided evidence supporting “the underdog hypothesis” in national elite youth teams. Relatively young players were also more likely to get higher value senior professional contracts in the long term. We propose that this may be due to the relatively young players developing superior psychological skills and technical expertise to compensate for their early physical disadvantage. This in turn suggests the need for greater awareness of the importance of personality constructs in the future development of youth elite soccer players. Therefore, the crux of the issue is how youth soccer academies elicit the “best of both worlds” ie. moderating RAE whilst also gaining the benefits of the underdog hypothesis by creating the right environment for every player to develop to their full potential in elite youth soccer academies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1226599/fullindividual differenceslong-term careerwell-beingunderdog hypothesistalent identification |
| spellingShingle | Sofie Bolckmans Kris Perquy Janet L. Starkes Daniel Memmert Werner F. Helsen Werner F. Helsen The relationships between relative age effect, personality constructs and achievement level in soccer Frontiers in Sports and Active Living individual differences long-term career well-being underdog hypothesis talent identification |
| title | The relationships between relative age effect, personality constructs and achievement level in soccer |
| title_full | The relationships between relative age effect, personality constructs and achievement level in soccer |
| title_fullStr | The relationships between relative age effect, personality constructs and achievement level in soccer |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationships between relative age effect, personality constructs and achievement level in soccer |
| title_short | The relationships between relative age effect, personality constructs and achievement level in soccer |
| title_sort | relationships between relative age effect personality constructs and achievement level in soccer |
| topic | individual differences long-term career well-being underdog hypothesis talent identification |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1226599/full |
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