Talent identification and development processes of female soccer academies from the top three tiers in England

Alder, Sam, Causer, Joe, Champ, Francesca, McRobert, Allistair, Datson, Naomi ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5507-9540 and Andrew, Matthew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2007-910X (2024) Talent identification and development processes of female soccer academies from the top three tiers in England. Journal of Expertise. ISSN 2573-2773 (In Press)

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Abstract

With the continued growth and professionalism within female soccer in England, the need to optimise talent identification (TiD) and talent development (TDev) processes has become increasingly critical. However, there remains a dearth of information regarding how clubs identify and nurture talent within their academies (Curran et al., 2019), limiting understanding of key processes that influence player progression. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring current practices of TiD and TDev across academies affiliated with clubs in the highest three league tiers in England. Academy directors from 26 clubs completed a 31-question online survey that assessed club structure, recruitment and development strategies, and player attrition. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics for multiple-choice (n = 13), checkbox (n = 7), and Likert scale (n = 5) questions, alongside thematic analysis of open-ended questions (n = 6) to identify differences across age categories and league tiers. Findings highlighted a scarcity of dedicated recruitment departments in youth structures, limiting selection decisions primarily to coaches and academy directors. While recruitment efforts focused increasingly on senior team preparation at older age categories, clubs consistently prioritised the personal development of players across all ages. Recruitment and development practices became more professionalised and multidisciplinary at higher age categories and league tiers. However, clubs continue to navigate challenges as they endeavour to expand and optimise these processes. These findings provide a benchmark for the current TiD and TDev landscape in English female youth soccer and build the foundation for ongoing dialogue and initiatives aimed at enhancing and refining the talent pathway to ensure sustainable growth within the sport.