Principles of talent identification in sport: The Talent Identification and Development Environments in Sport (TIDES) Society position statement
With growing evidence in the field of talent identification in sport, policy makers and practitioners are left with a broad range of theoretical and practical considerations. As sport necessitates answers, and often quickly, creating a list of evidence-informed principles for ethical and athlete-centred talent identification is needed. As such, 56 researchers and practitioners from the Talent Identification and Development Environments in Sport (TIDES) Society met to establish a working group and discuss, debate and identify guiding principles that are believed to influence talent identification in sport. A formal online meeting was held to openly discuss ideas and suggestions that were captured through video/audio recordings and note taking. A final list of 13 principles were centred on (a) health and well-being, (b) sociocultural influences and sport-specific context, (c) language and terminology, (d) timing and efficiency, (e) entry and exit points, (f) heuristics and biases, (g) objectivity and subjectivity, (h) shared mental models, (i) inter- and trans-disciplinary teams and (j) education and reflection. The TIDES Society suggests using these 13 principles to guide conversations when making decisions about ways to structure and practice talent identification, with the hopes of making more effective, efficient, and ethical talent identification environments.
Authors
- Alliance Kubayi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8370-3056)
- Alberto Lorenzo Calvo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4633-6701)
- Gabriele Morganti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9448-3872)
- Kevin Till (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9686-0536)
- Paolo Riccardo Brustio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8422-5132)
- Matthew Andrew (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2007-910X)
- Viswanath B. Unnithan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5147-1679)
- Till Koopmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3985-4084)
- Connor McGillick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3222-3957)
- Jan Verbeek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8470-7801)
- Rich J. Kite (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9336-4625)
- Irene R. Faber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4994-0453)
- Adam L. Kelly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4929-1067)
- A. McAuley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5473-8877)
- Daniel Leyhr (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0436-0866)
- Ed Hope
- André Roca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7038-1230)
- Svenja Wachsmuth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1964-6875)
- Ruud J. R. Den Hartigh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0094-8307)
- Kathryn Johnston (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5956-5810)
- Patrick Mannix
- Matthew J. Reeves (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3903-2910)
- Simon J. Roberts (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7370-0161)
- Paul Larkin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0493-4148)
- Tom Bergkamp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5522-1247)
- Sam Alder
- William McCalman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9620-9022)
- Kyle J.M. Bennett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2288-4770)
- Fieke Rongen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6367-8255)
- Jörg Schorer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4888-7048)
- James H. Dugdale (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8101-6490)
- Oliver Höner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3108-1531)
- Fynn Bergmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8323-3157)
- Alexandra Lascu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0336-4654)
- Philip E. Kearney (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3425-663X)
- Laura Finnegan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9715-5097)
- Youssif Maximos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9505-8610)
- Andy Cain
- Russell Martindale (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3905-3738)
- Sam Barraclough (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8584-6408)
- Kevin Braybrook (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6943-0303)
- Henry Titley-Wall
- Mirelle van Rijbroek
- John Lind
- Amanda Partington
- John Francis
- Israel Teoldo da Costa
- Kieren Elder
- Andrew Triggs
- BARNABY; id_orcid 0000-0001-7491-4962 SARGENT MEGICKS
- Joseph Baker
- Pat Oakes
- Tom Mitchell
- Michael King
- Ilse Petra Peringa
- Daniel Fortin-Guichard
Institutions
- Manchester Metropolitan University (GB)
- Birmingham City University (GB)
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (DE)
- Tshwane University of Technology (ZA)
- English Institute of Sport (GB)
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa (BR)
- Deakin University (AU)
- Southampton Solent University (GB)
- Edge Hill University (GB)
- University of Groningen (NL)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- University of Limerick (IE)
- Windesheim University of Applied Sciences (NL)
- Edinburgh Napier University (GB)
- Fédération Internationale de Football Association (CH)
- Royal Dutch Football Association (NL)
- International Ice Hockey Federation (CH)
- Victoria School of Management (CH)
- South East Technological University (IE)
- McGill University (CA)
- Nottingham Trent University (GB)
- University of Turin (IT)
- Liverpool John Moores University (GB)
- Southern Cross University (AU)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
- University of Worcester (GB)
- University of Tübingen (DE)
- Leeds Beckett University (GB)
- University of the West of Scotland (GB)
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ES)
- Bournemouth University (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Sports Sciences
- Published
- 2026-08-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2026.2705709
- Primary Topic
- Sport Psychology and Performance
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00