A scoping review of the potential sociological predictors of talent in junior-elite football: 2000-2016

Abstract

The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the potential sociological predictors for identifying talent in junior-elite football. Four academic databases were searched using a systematic search strategy, and nine eligibility criteria were applied to ensure only relevant studies were included. A total of 1107 potential studies were returned for the review. However, 1083 did not meet the eligibility criteria, and a further 12 articles were excluded after further screening. Two follow-up searches yielded one additional article for inclusion. In total, 13 articles were included in the final scoping review. These studies aligned to four potential sociological predictors of talent in football: (1) hours in practice; (2) coach–child interaction; (3) parental support; and (4) education. Each potential predictor is examined in detail with key findings summarized before impact for practice, and future research direction is proposed.