Talent ID Strategies: Overcoming Player Maturation and Relative Age Bias

Jul 7, 2024

Sunday Session: Talent ID Strategies and Overcoming Player Maturation and Relative Age Bias

Host: Steve Judge, Football Network World Guests: Rick Riordvelt (AZ Alkmaar), Andreas Schumacher (Stuttgart), Bob Browis (Belgium FA)

Session Format

  • Split into two halves
    • First half: Key topics presentations
    • Second half: Discussions on player potential vs performance
  • Audience questions directed to Rick, Andreas, and Bob throughout the session

Introductions

Rick Riordvelt (AZ Alkmaar)

  • Background: Human Movement Science at the University of Amsterdam, Internship at AZ Alkmaar Youth Academy, Sports Scientist and Data Scientist at AZ Alkmaar
  • Specialty: Biological age and physical testing, making data practical for trainers and coaches

Andreas Schumacher (Stuttgart)

  • Background: Former third league player, over a decade of coaching experience, Sports Science Masters, and various coaching licenses
  • Current role: Head of the Performance Phase and Head of Individualization at Stuttgart

Bob Browis (Belgium FA)

  • Background: Masters in Physical Education from University of Ghent, multiple roles at Belgium FA since 1999, including Technical Director and National Youth Coach

Key Topics and Presentations

Rick Riordvelt: Player Maturation Strategies at AZ Alkmaar

  • Biological Age: Using the Mirwald formula to estimate the biological age of players
  • Physical Testing: Speed, agility, footwork, explosiveness
  • Percentile Charts: Create percentiles for each bio-age to compare players' physical attributes fairly
  • Development Path: Focus not just on current performance but on potential; late maturers can improve significantly with the right training programs

Andreas Schumacher: Identifying Potential vs. Performance

  • Talent Pool Issues: The skewed talent pool due to early specialization and high dropout rates among late maturers and younger players
  • Key Indicators:
    • Chronological Age
    • Biological Maturation
    • Football Age
    • Amount of Training
    • Specialization vs. Diversification
  • Games Design: 2v1s, 3v2s, and overload games to assess game intelligence and decision-making
  • Comparison: