SCIENTIFIC AND METHODOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR SELECTING TALENTED CHILDREN FOR FOOTBALL
Abstract
This article presents a three-stage, multi-domain talent selection methodology specifically designed for identifying and developing gifted children for football. The study was conducted between 2022 and 2024 and involved 120 children aged 7-14 years attending junior football academies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Five interconnected selection domains were defined -physical fitness, technical skills, tactical intelligence, psychological readiness, and anthropometric indicators -and age-differentiated normative standards were established for each. Physical readiness was assessed through standardised sport-pedagogical testing protocols; technical skills were evaluated using high-speed video analysis at up to 240 frames per second; tactical decision-making was measured via simulation-based chronometric testing, with a threshold of 2.0 seconds established for the 13-14 age group (r=0.74, p < 0.01 correlation with match performance); and psychological readiness was examined using the SAQ questionnaire and Spielberger-Hanin anxiety scales. Implementation of the three-stage methodology yielded a statistically significant 22.6% improvement in the overall selection accuracy of the experimental group compared to controls (p < 0.05). The findings demonstrate that an integrated, scientifically grounded selection system substantially enhances talent identification outcomes and provides coaches and sports organisations with actionable, evidence-based tools.
Keywords
talented children, football, talent selection, physical fitness, technical skills, tactical intelligence, psychological criteria, youth football, sport selection methodology, normative standards.How to Cite
References
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