Maturity-based correction mechanism for talent identification: When is it needed, does it work, and does it help to better predict who will make it to the pros?

Charbonnet, Bryan; Sieghartsleitner, Roland; Schmid, Jürg; Zuber, Claudia; Zibung, Marc; Conzelmann, Achim (2022). Maturity-based correction mechanism for talent identification: When is it needed, does it work, and does it help to better predict who will make it to the pros? Journal of sports science & medicine, 21(4), pp. 640-657. Uludag University 10.52082/jssm.2022.640

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When identifying talent, the confounding influence of maturity status on motor performances is an acknowledged problem. To solve this problem, correction mechanisms have been proposed to transform maturity-biased test scores into maturity-unbiased ones. Whether or not such corrections also improve predictive validity remains unclear. To address this question, we calculated correlations between maturity indicators and motor performance variables among a sample of 121 fifteen-year-old elite youth football players in Switzerland. We corrected motor performance scores identified as maturity-biased, and we assessed correction procedure efficacy. Subsequently, we examined whether corrected scores better predicted levels of performance achievement 6 years after data collection (47 professionals vs. 74 non-professional players) compared with raw scores using point biserial correlations, binary logistic regression models, and DeLong tests. Expectedly, maturity indicators correlated with raw scores (0.16 ≤ | r | ≤ 0.72; ps < 0.05), yet not with corrected scores. Contrary to expectations, corrected scores were not associated with an additional predictive benefit (univariate: no significant r-change; multivariate: 0.02 ≤ ΔAUC ≤ 0.03, ps > 0.05). We do not interpret raw and corrected score equivalent predictions as a sign of correction mechanism futility (more work for the same output); rather we view them as an invitation to take corrected scores seriously into account (same output, one fewer problem) and to revise correction-related expectations according to initial predictive validity of motor variables, validity of maturity indicators, initial maturity-bias, and selection systems. Recommending maturity-based corrections is legitimate, yet currently based on theoretical rather than empirical (predictive) arguments.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Sport Science (ISPW)
07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Sport Science (ISPW) > Sport Psychology and Research Methods

UniBE Contributor:

Charbonnet, Bryan, Sieghartsleitner, Roland Gilbert, Schmid, Jürg (B), Zuber, Claudia, Zibung, Marc Raphael, Conzelmann, Achim

Subjects:

700 Arts > 790 Sports, games & entertainment

ISSN:

1303-2968

Publisher:

Uludag University

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

19 Dec 2022 14:07

Last Modified:

22 Mar 2024 14:41

Publisher DOI:

10.52082/jssm.2022.640

PubMed ID:

36523901

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Soccer confounding variable growth and development motor skills physical fitness predictive value of tests

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/176022

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/176022

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