Predictors for national junior squad selection in the German Volleyball Federation

Abstract

Introduction: More and more studies recommend combining holistic coaches’ assessments (CA) with multidimensional measurements for selection decisions to enhance predictive value for talent development. The so-called coach’s eye is one of the most used criteria for talent selection, especially in sports games. Few studies have analyzed predictors for talent selection in volleyball, particularly among female athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to study predictors for being selected to the first German junior national squad in volleyball, both in female and male players. Methods: Data of 106 athletes (female n = 53, male n = 53), participating in the national selection camps for the under 17 (U17) national squad, were analyzed in this study. Anthropometrics, motor performance, motor–cognitive and cognitive data, as well as CA were collected during the camp. In a first step, these data were reduced using a principal component analysis; resulting components were then analyzed in a binomial logistic regression (stepwise backwards) to predict selection. Results: For both sexes, the CA were found to predict selection, with 86.8% of female athletes (Nagelkerke’s R2 = 0.53) and 81.1% of male athletes (Nagelkerke’s R2 = 0.61) correctly classified. No other data were found to be predictive for the German national squads. Conclusion: Accordingly, the CA play a particularly important role in talent selection as they were the only predictors for selection to both national squads. Combining the per se multidimensional coach’s eye with further assessments and tests seems to be a valid approach.