Relative age and maturation selection biases in academy football

ABSTRACT

This study examined the simultaneous effects of relative age and biological maturity status upon player selection in an English professional soccer academy. A total of 202 players from the U9 to U16 age groups, over an eight-year period (total of 566 observations), had their relative age (birth quarter) and biological maturity (categorised as late, on-time or early maturing based upon the Khamis-Roche method of percentage of predicted adult height at time of observation) recorded. Players born in the first birth quarter of the year (54.8%) were over-represented across all age groups. A selection bias towards players advanced in maturity status for chronological age emerged in U12 players and increased with age; 0% of players in the U15 and U16 age group were categorised as late maturing. A clear maturity selection bias for early maturing players was, however, only apparent when the least conservative criterion for estimating maturity status was applied (53.8% early and 1.9% late maturing in the U16 age group). Professional football academies need to recognise relative age and maturation as independent constructs that exist and operate independently. Thus, separate strategies should perhaps be designed to address the respective selection biases, to better identify, retain and develop players.     

A survey of talent identification and development processes in the youth academies of professional soccer clubs from around the world

ABSTRACT

Talent identification (TID) and development (TDE) are large fields in professional soccer and in science. However, TID and TDE processes in youth academies have not been assessed in detail. As such, our aim was to survey professional clubs from around the world about their youth academy TID and TDE processes, with 29 clubs responding to the survey. TID and TDE processes changed as a function of player age. TID processes involved finding the best players locally and regionally, but for older players the search widened to nationally and internationally for the needs of the first team. Clubs used a multidisciplinary approach to TID, but more so with older players. Median number of academy players was 80, 100, and 66 players at 8–11 years, 12–16 years, and 17–21 years, respectively. Annual player turnover in the most recent season (selections/de-selections) was 29% across all age groups, with competition from other clubs cited as a limitation to TID. TDE processes involved weekly matches and 3–5 training sessions per week led by experienced, well-qualified coaches, with most clubs providing players with academic education, residency and transportation services. Our findings extend previous research assessing professional soccer youth academy TID and TDE processes by quantifying worldwide practices.     

体育转型和人才细分拓展

转型期体育面临着巨大的商机和人才需求,本文通过对人才的预期和细分,提出新时期人才的应变对策.     

北京体育大学全面实施学分制的理论设计与初始实践

北体大从95级开始全面实行学分制，并以此为龙头带动教学改革全面配套进行。学校现有的师资队伍、办学条件等为实行学分制打下了基础。全面实施学分制的基本思路包括：明确实施目标与指导思想，修订各专业教学计划，整体设计人才培养模式；各专业打通基础中期分流，调整专业方向，实行两段式培养；全面改造各专业课程体系，调整各类课程比例，改善学生知识结构。实行弹性学制和专项俱乐部训练制。从实践中获得的启示是必须解决好与学分制有关的一系列问题。     

高校体育引入策划理念的思考

对策划理念与高校体育结合运用进行了探讨，认为高校体育引入策划理念对培养合格人才、促进学科建设、优化组织管理、深化教学改革、提高教学效果，高质量、高层次开展体育文化活动等都有积极的作用。     

加强审计实践教育培养现代审计人才

本文通过分析目前审计教学中存在的重理论轻实践的问题 ,提出了加强实践教育 ,培养应用型、综合型的现代审计人才的思路     

我国艺术体操后备力量现状及培养对策的研

通过文献资料法、问卷调查法、专家访谈法、数理统计法发现 ,我国艺术体操后备力量的人口数量少、参加比赛的次数少 ,教练员的选材方法不全面、队员来源起点低。     

综合性国家科学中心情报保障体系和运行模式构建——以合肥为例

[目的/意义] 针对综合性国家科学中心建设的情报保障体系进行研究,为科技创新发展建言献策,并为国内科学中心建设提供借鉴和参考。[方法/过程] 首先简要概述综合性国家科学中心情报需求的特点以及情报保障体系的特点,并分析综合性国家科学中心情报保障的作用,指出情报保障体系建设的三个面向,最后研究合肥综合性国家科学中心情报保障核心体系建设和运行模式。[结果/结论] 综合性国家科学中心的情报保障体系应服务于创新驱动发展战略,其保障内容、涉及范围更广更全面。情报保障体系框架是由多主体协同建设,为国家科学中心的规划与管理以及各圈层服务。情报保障体系要着重于情报平台、情报人才队伍、信息基础设施以及情报管理制度建设。情报保障体系的运行模式是以政府为主导的与内部情报平台以及外部情报合作相互联系、交流互动的过程,也是情报资源创造和实现的过程,从而为创新发展服务。     

高校期刊编辑与研究生作者之间的三重关系分析

高校期刊拥有众多的研究生作者群体,研究生作者投稿量逐年增多。论述高校期刊编辑与研究生作者之间的三重关系:编辑与研究生作者之间是编者与作者的关系,也是老师和学生的关系,更是平等友好的互动互惠合作关系。正确处理和运用好二者的关系对办好高校期刊和培育研究生作者快速成才具有重大意义。     

人才项目与当代中国学术精英的塑造

通过对中国科学院院士、"国家杰出青年科学基金"以及四类国家级青年人才项目入选者的描述性统计分析,本文发现人才项目已成为我国学界特别是理工科领域塑造学术精英的重要制度。学术精英的成长呈现出"人才项目依托"与"人才项目嵌套"的特点,不同层次人才项目的重叠嵌套,形成了学术精英生成的结构性路径,"不入选则出局"成为塑造学术精英的法则。与单位制时代相比,人才项目在塑造学术精英的过程中延续了"制度化的精英主义",其及早筛选与重点培养优秀学者的特征并未褪去。人才项目也被纳入院系学术队伍的建设之中。与此同时,人才项目强化了学术精英生成中的学术竞争,对学术精英的德行与才能的要求也发生了相应的变化。人才项目广泛扩散并应用于高校人事聘任制度改革,带来了一系列的非意图后果。