Robinson, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2546-2190, Forsdyke, Dale ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4283-4356, Arenas, L., Dawson, Zoe ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9181-0572, King, M., Myhill, N., Towlson, C., Springham, M., Walsh, Luke, Mallinson-Howard, Sarah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8525-1540, Barrett, S. and Salter, Jamie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7375-1476 (2025) Bio-banding influences talent experts' ratings of psycho-social behaviours during 11 v 11 soccer match-play. Journal of sports sciences. pp. 1-14.

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Abstract

Selection into talent programmes is determined by perceptions of talent experts (i.e. professional academy scouts or coaches). Biological maturity status and/or timing can influence psycho-social behaviours in match-play. This study examined whether bio-banding (i.e. grouping players by biological maturity) influences talent experts' ratings of psycho-social behaviours. Using the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool (HSBST), 14 talent experts rated 118 trained/developmental, male, adolescent (age: 13.7 ± 0.8 years) soccer players during six 20-minute, chronological age and bio-banded 11v11 matches. Players were bio-banded using percentage of predicted adult height (%PAH) using modified band thresholds relevant to peak height velocity (PHV; < 90%PAH, pre; 90-96%PAH, circa; and > 96%PAH, post-PHV). Dependent sample t-tests between the whole group ratings identified significant differences ( < 0.05) between formats. Decision-making and composure ratings increased in pre-PHV, with X-factor improving for circa-PHV players. Perceptions of resilience, competitiveness and confidence had to ( = 0.26-0.65) reductions for early maturers. Bio-banding significantly enhanced perceptions of competitiveness, confidence, composure and X-factor in on-time maturers ( = 0.011-0.049). Data indicates bio-banding positively influences perceptions of composure, competitiveness, decision-making and X-factor by talent experts, particularly for less biologically advanced players. Bio-banding may alter talent experts' observations of psycho-social behaviours, potentially improving (de)selection accuracy by assessing talent more holistically.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
DOI:	10.1080/02640414.2025.2570047
School/Department:	School of Science, Technology and Health
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/13213

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