Prediction Function for Identifying Talent in 14- to 15-Year-old Female Field Hockey Players

Abstract

The object of this study was to identify kinanthropometric, motor-physical and psychological variables and specific field hockey skills that influence field hockey performance at the age of 14 to 15 years. The two top girls' field hockey teams in the North West Province (South Africa) U/15 (under 15 age group) field hockey league (n = 27), as well as the two teams who ended at the bottom of the league (n = 25), were exposed to a test battery. The 52 subjects were classified according to their league results as successful and less successful. The test battery consisted of nine field hockey skills tests, 16 kinanthropometric tests and six physical-motor ability tests and two sport psychological tests. A statistical analysis of the data was done for descriptive purposes and statistical significances between the successful and less successful players were determined. Results indicated meaningful differences in some variables. A prediction function was therefore developed consisting of eight variables that successfully distinguished between successful and less successful 14- to 15-year-old female field hockey players.