Case study of the implementation of a competence evaluation of soccer players in the “cadete” category of Sevilla F.C.

Abstract

Soccer is one of the most practiced sports in the world, requiring coaches, club technicians and specialized sports associations to have the tools to identify potential players who demonstrate a high professional level. That is why the objective was to implement an evaluation methodology for the analysis of a soccer player competency model (MCJF) in two teams in the Sevilla FC “cadete” (U15-16) category. The competence perception of 4 dimensions (psychological, tactical, technical and physical) was analyzed, on a scale of six levels. A bidirectional analysis was carried out, where the player's perception of himself and the coach's perception of the player are compared, and if this depends on the position held on the field. The results suggested that the assessment of the perception of skills to highlight the talent of coaches and players are similar in all areas, highlighting the tactical, technical and psychosocial dimensions. The perception that a player has about the assessment of his skills depends on the position he occupies on the field of play (ANOVA p <0.05). Regarding the perception of the coach, the tactical and technical dimensions showed dependence on the variables studied (ANOVA p <0.05). This study shows the need for tools not only for coaches to detect talent, but also for the players themselves to know what’s expected of them to develop at a professional level.