Identification and assessment of perceptual-cognitive skills in academy soccer.

Triggs, AO ORCID: 0009-0009-2431-5633, Causer, J ORCID: 0000-0002-8939-8769, McRobert, AP ORCID: 0000-0002-0964-7199, Reeves, MJ ORCID: 0000-0002-3903-2910 and Andrew, M ORCID: 0000-0003-2007-910X (2025) Identification and assessment of perceptual-cognitive skills in academy soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences. pp. 1-17. ISSN 1466-447X

Preview

Text Identification and assessment of perceptual-cognitive skills in academy soccer.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (519kB) | Preview

Abstract

Perceptual-cognitive skills (PCS) are fundamental for high performance in professional soccer, and thus youth academy players must develop these skills to enhance their chances of progressing to senior soccer and securing professional contracts. Consequently, it is important that stakeholders involved in talent identification and development processes (i.e. coaches/scouts) can identify and assess these skills to inform identification, (de)selection and development processes. However, little is known about the identification and assessment process of PCS by these stakeholders. The aim of this study was to critically examine how coaches working in professional soccer academies in the UK identify and assess PCS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 academy coaches working in category one to three academies in the UK. Reflexive thematic analysis generated five higher-order themes: (1) education, knowledge and understanding; (2) experience; (3) challenges; (4) club-specific context; and (5) biases, along with various secondary and tertiary themes. Findings highlighted inconsistencies and a lack of standardised methodologies for identifying and assessing PCS in talent development environments. Participants' understanding of PCS was shaped by informal learning and limited education in this area. Future research should, therefore, consider developing assessment tools and frameworks that can support coaches with the identification and assessment of PCS.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Sports Sciences on 5th December 2025, available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2590793
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Expert performance; game intelligence; multidisciplinary coaching; scouting; 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences; 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy; Sport Sciences; 3202 Clinical sciences; 4207 Sports science and exercise; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Date of acceptance:	6 November 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	8 December 2025
Date Deposited:	08 Dec 2025 14:32
Last Modified:	08 Dec 2025 14:32
DOI or ID number:	10.1080/02640414.2025.2590793
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27684

View Item