Coaches' perceptions of the use of chronological and biological age in the identification and development of talented athletes

Fiander, Matthew, Jones, Martin I and Parker, John K (2014) Coaches' perceptions of the use of chronological and biological age in the identification and development of talented athletes. In: Innovative Writings in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY, pp. 147-163.

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Abstract

Coaches and practitioners recognize that talent identification and development have a crucial role in the pursuit of excellence. National governing bodies routinely allocate youth participants, irrespective of biological age, to chronological age categories in an effort to ensure developmentally fair competition and opportunity. However, differences in the timing and tempo of maturation provide evidence to exclude chronological age and can lead to the misclassification of children in relation to their biological maturity. The purpose of this study was to explore coaches’ perceptions of how they use chronological age and biological age in coaching practice, and the importance they place on the measurement and utilization of biological age to develop young athletes. We conducted semi-structured interviews with six coaches and analyzed data using a qualitative description methodology. The results revealed three main themes relating to the delivery of the long-term athlete development model, the limited or lack of knowledge of all aspects of the long-term athlete development model, and a desire for a different model. Results provide scholars and practitioners with a greater understanding of coaches’ perspectives of the use of chronological and biological age in the identification and development of talented athletes.

Item Type:	Book Section
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Coach perceptions, practitioners, talented athletes, chronological age, biological age.
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports > GV0712 Athletic contests. Sports events
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Anne Pengelly
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2016 12:55
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:10
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/3670

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