Criteria and Determinants for Player Selection in Youth Development Centers Used by Handball Coaches

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This research paper aims to analyze and identify the role played by handball coaches in youth development centers in the process of selecting talented players. Based on a systematic review of literature and previous studies, the paper explores the different dimensions of the selection process, the criteria used by coaches, and the gap between scientific models of talent identification and actual field practices. The findings derived from the reviewed literature indicate that the coach represents the cornerstone in making selection decisions. However, these decisions are largely influenced by personal experience and subjective judgments, with a clear tendency to focus on morphological and physical determinants at the expense of technical and tactical aspects, along with a near absence of structured psychological assessment. The paper concludes that the current selection process lacks comprehensiveness and balance.