Gold Score Basketball: a hybrid scientific talent identification model for male basketball

Authors

  • Dilson Borges Ribeiro Junior Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - Faculdade de Educação Física e Desportos https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4616-1761
  • Jeferson Macedo Vianna Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - Faculdade de Educação Física e Desportos
  • Hélder Zimmermann Oliveira Universidade Salgado de Oliveira - Universo Juiz de Fora
  • Rodrigo César Pedrosa Silva Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto - Instituto de Ciˆ´ências Exatas e Biológicas
  • Francisco Zacaron Werneck Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto - Escola de Educação Física https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1966-8820

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6063/motricidade.22607

Keywords:

talent identification, talent selection, statistical modelling, basketball

Abstract

Talent identification in Brazilian basketball lacks systematization. The present study aimed to create a mathematical model to assess the sport's potential of young basketball players and test its psychometric properties. One hundred seventy-eight young male players (12 to 17 years old; regional/state competitive level) underwent a multidimensional battery of tests and were evaluated by their coaches (intangibles aspects of sporting potential and expectation of future success. Z scores and percentiles were calculated). The Gold Score Basketball was created through analytical and heuristic procedures, a hybrid (tests + coaches’ eye) and a weighted index for estimating sporting potential with 26 quantitative and 2 qualitative indicators. The model classified 5.1% of athletes as excellence potential (Gold Score >90). Internal consistency was moderate (r = 0.59) and diagnostic stability was high (r = 0.82). Players with higher competitive level (62.9±14.4 vs 50.7±15.6, p<.001; construct validity) and players who won state/national championships (64.3±15.4 vs 52.1±15.6, p<.001; criterion validity) had higher Gold Score. In conclusion, Gold Score Basketball is a valid and reliable scientific model for assessing the sporting potential of young male basketball players, being useful in identifying sporting talents.

Keywords: talent identification; talent selection; statistical modelling; basketball.

Published

2021-12-30

Issue

Section

Original Article

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