Reader,
Athlete development and talent identification are complex topics. I have recently been involved in a process around player selection for a team I am coaching.
The players in question are between 15 and 18 years old and throughout the process I had to continually remind myself that having just met the group in February, I really knew nothing about them outside of what I was seeing on the training pitch.
I’ve been fortunate to be able to keep the playing group wide, and engage with the players for a period of over 6 weeks, which has included sessions, internal games and pre-season fixtures. Throughout that time, I have had to stay aware of my own biases. I know that I value hard-working footballers, players who compete and constantly put in effort, so this might take my attention away from a player who has other attributes.
In my mind, traditional trial processes are fundamentally flawed. In the past, children might get one or two trials to impress a coach based purely on a few football moments on the pitch and then be streamed into a team based on their ability at that moment in time – after all it’s easier to see this than potential.
“We know what we’re looking for, but we don’t know what we’re looking at.” – Mark O’Sullivan
It’s usually the case that players who affect the game in a youth context may have some obvious (or hidden) advantages. If they are chronologically older (born earlier in the school or selection year), physically more mature, have more playing experience relative to their peers (training age) or perhaps are more emotionally or socially mature, this can impact how they perform.
Because of these influences, we often need to think about what we don’t know about the player and take as many chances as possible to get to know them beyond what we see in the game.
Three things to consider.
- What is your club’s selection (and deselection) process if you do have trials?
- Are trials even necessary in amateur or grassroots contexts where really, the aim should be to encourage children to engage with the game, stay in the game and enjoy their football?
- If you do select children in teams, what is the rationale behind this and are you and the other selectors aware of your own biases?
One thing for you to try this week.
Consider reflecting on your club’s selection processes. Should we trial players? If we do trial players, what is our process each season? It may be valuable to write down any biases you have through your own lived experiences or things you value in players when you watch the game that could impact your view.
One critical resource on the topic.
Talent ID: Survival of the Fittest or Survival of Talent? – Mark O’Sullivan
