Oliver Höner

Psychometric properties of the motor diagnostics in the German football talent identification and development programme

Abstract The utilisation of motor performance tests for talent identification in youth sports is discussed intensively in talent research. This article examines the reliability, differential stability and validity of the motor diagnostics conducted nationwide by the German football talent identification and development programme and provides reference values for a standardised interpretation of the diagnostics results. Highly selected players (the top 4% of their age groups, U12–U15) took part in the diagnostics at 17 measurement points between spring 2004 and spring 2012 (N = 68,158). The heterogeneous test battery measured speed abilities and football-specific technical skills (sprint, agility, dribbling, ball control, shooting, juggling). For all measurement points, the overall score and the speed tests showed high internal consistency, high test–retest reliability and satisfying differential stability. The diagnostics demonstrated satisfying factorial-related validity with plausible and stable loadings on the two empirical factors “speed” and “technical skills”. The score, and the technical skills dribbling and juggling, differentiated the most among players of different performance levels and thus showed the highest criterion-related validity. Satisfactory psychometric properties for the diagnostics are an important prerequisite for a scientifically sound rating of players’ actual motor performance and for the future examination of the prognostic validity for success in adulthood.

The relative age effect in the German Football TID Programme: biases in motor performance diagnostics and effects on single motor abilities and skills in groups of selected players.

Abstract This study examined the disturbing effects of relative age on the talent identification process in the talent development programme of the German Football Association. The bias in the selection rate was examined via the extent of relative age effects. The bias in motor performance diagnostics was analysed by comparing the motor performance of selected players with normal motor development. The mechanisms underlying the relative age biases in motor performance were examined by modelling the direct and indirect effects of relative age on single motor performance tests for sprint, running agility, dribbling and ball passing and control. Data from 10,130 selected football players from the U12 to U15 age groups were collected in autumn 2010. The birth distribution differed significantly from the reference population with approximately 61% of the players born in the first half of the year. The selection probability was approximately two times higher for players born in the first quarter of the year than for players born in the last quarter. Revised motor performance diagnostics showed better results on average for relatively younger players. Path analysis revealed significant direct and indirect relative age effects for physiologically demanding tests and almost no effects for technically demanding tests. Large sample sizes allowed high resolution in relative age with additional informational content and multivariate modelling of the complex relationships among relative age, physical development and motor performance. The results are discussed on how relative age affects the effectiveness and fairness of talent identification and development processes.

Instrumentelle Bewegungsaktivitäten von Herzinfarktpatienten

Zusammenfassung. Die Initiierung regelmasiger Sportaktivitaten von Herzinfarktpatienten nach ihrer Anschlussheilbehandlung (AHB) bildet eine wesentliche Voraussetzung zur Sicherung eines langfristigen Rehabilitationserfolges. Im Sinne einer theoretischen Rekonstruktion solcher instrumenteller Bewegungsaktivitaten wird ein integratives Modell vorgestellt. Darin werden mit der Rubikontheorie der Handlungsphasen (Heckhausen, 1989; Gollwitzer, 1996) eine handlungspsychologische Perspektive und mit sozial-kognitiven Determinanten aus Modellen zum Gesundheitsverhalten (z.B. Fuchs, 1997) eine gesundheitsspezifische Perspektive miteinander verknupft. Zur empirischen Anwendung des Modells werden in einer Feldstudie 135 Herzinfarktpatienten wahrend ihrer stationaren AHB schriftlich und drei Monate poststationar telefonisch hinsichtlich der Initiierung regelmasiger Sportaktivitaten im Alltag befragt. Ein zentrales Ergebnis der Studie deutet auf die besondere Rolle volitionaler Merkmale (z.B. Realisierungsintentionen...

Psychological talent predictors in youth soccer: A systematic review of the prognostic relevance of psychomotor, perceptual-cognitive and personality-related factors

Within the multidimensional nature of soccer talent, recently there has been an increasing interest in psychological characteristics. The aim of this present research was to systematically review the predictive value of psychological talent predictors and provide better comprehension of the researchers’ methodological approaches and the empirical evidence for individual factors (i.e., psychomotor, perceptual-cognitive and personality-related). Results highlighted heterogeneous study designs (e.g., participants, measurement methods, statistical analyses) which may limit the comparability of studies’ findings. Analyzing the number of included studies, psychomotor (n = 10) and personality-related factors (n = 8) received more consideration within the literature than perceptual-cognitive factors (n = 4). In regard to empirical evidence, dribbling (0.47 ≤ d ≤ 1.24), ball control (0.57 ≤ d ≤ 1.28) and decision-making (d = 0.81) demonstrated good predictive values as well as the achievement motives hope for success (0.27 ≤ d ≤ 0.74) and fear of failure (0.21 ≤ d ≤ 0.30). In conclusion, there is growing acceptance of the need for more complex statistical analyses to predict future superior performance based on measures of current talent. New research addresses the necessity for large-scale studies that employ multidisciplinary test batteries to assess youth athletes at different age groups prospectively.

Individuum und Handeln - Sportpsychologie

Welche Wahrnehmungsprozesse laufen in einem Sportspiel wie ab? Wie und wann fallt z. B. die Entscheidung fur Passen oder Torschuss? Wie entsteht Angst im Turnunterricht, und wie lasst sie sich abbauen? Wie kann man erreichen, dass sich Menschen einen bewegungsaktiveren Lebensstil aneignen? Fordert Schulsport die Personlichkeitsentwicklung von Kindern und Jugendlichen? Welche Personlichkeitsmerkmale weisen erfolgreiche Sportler auf? Auf welche Art und Weise gelingt es dem Menschen, Neues zu lernen? Wie verandert sich der Mensch im Lebenslauf, wie lassen sich diese Veranderungen erklaren, und welche Rolle spielen dabei sportliche Aktivitaten? Wie muss eine Fusballmannschaft zusammengestellt werden, damit sie moglichst erfolgreich ist? – Mit Fragen dieser Art befasst sich die Sportpsychologie. Das vorliegende Kapitel gibt einen Uberblick uber die wichtigsten Grundlagen der Sportpsychologie.