The application of a multi-dimensional assessment approach to talent identification in Australian football

Document Type

Journal Article

Publisher

Routledge

School

School of Exercise and Health Sciences

RAS ID

21930

Comments

Woods, C. T., Raynor, A. J., Bruce, L., McDonald, Z., & Robertson, S. (2016). The application of a multi-dimensional assessment approach to talent identification in Australian football. Journal of sports sciences, 34(14), 1340-1345. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1142668

Abstract

This study investigated whether a multi-dimensional assessment could assist with talent identification in junior Australian football (AF). Participants were recruited from an elite under 18 (U18) AF competition and classified into two groups; talent identified (State U18 Academy representatives; n = 42; 17.6 ± 0.4 y) and non-talent identified (non-State U18 Academy representatives; n = 42; 17.4 ± 0.5 y). Both groups completed a multi-dimensional assessment, which consisted of physical (standing height, dynamic vertical jump height and 20 m multistage fitness test), technical (kicking and handballing tests) and perceptual-cognitive (video decision-making task) performance outcome tests. A multivariate analysis of variance tested the main effect of status on the test criterions, whilst a receiver operating characteristic curve assessed the discrimination provided from the full assessment. The talent identified players outperformed their non-talent identified peers in each test (P < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve reflected near perfect discrimination (AUC = 95.4%), correctly classifying 95% and 86% of the talent identified and non-talent identified participants, respectively. When compared to single assessment approaches, this multi-dimensional assessment reflects a more comprehensive means of talent identification in AF. This study further highlights the importance of assessing multi-dimensional performance qualities when identifying talented team sports.

DOI

10.1080/02640414.2016.1142668

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