Talent Identification and Development in Sport

Prognostic relevance of motor talent characteristics [Topic 1]

• Höner, O., Bergmann, F., & Leyhr, D. (2025). “Don’t forget the number 1 in soccer talent research!” – predictive validity of objectively tested motor attributes and subjectively rated position-specific skills in elite youth goalkeepers. Journal of Sports Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2517974
• Leyhr, D., Bergmann, F., Raabe, J., & Höner, O. (2025). Multidimensional performance assessments in U15 female soccer: The predictive validity for different selection levels in U17 and success in adulthood. European Journal of Sport Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12335
• Bergmann, F., Schultz, F., Fransen, J., & Höner, O. (2024). Evaluation of a goalkeeper-specific motor coordination assessment in youth football. Science and Medicine in Football, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2024.2429486
• Kilian, P., Leyhr, D., Urban, C. J., Höner, O., & Kelava, A. (2023). A deep learning factor analysis model based on importance-weighted variational inference and normalizing flow priors: Evaluation within a set of multidimensional performance assessments in youth elite soccer players. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining: The ASA Data Science Journal, 16(5), 474-487. https://doi.org/10.1002/sam.11632
• Deutscher Fußball-Bund (2022) (with contributions from O. Höner, R. Schreiner, T. Leber & F. Schultz, and others). Performance Diagnostics in the talent development programme of the German FA (DFB) – A Manual for Conducting Objective and Subjective Tests in the age groups U12 – U15 [pdf].
• Höner, O., Murr, D., Larkin, P., Schreiner, R., & Leyhr, D. (2021). Nationwide Subjective and Objective Assessments of Potential Talent Predictors in Elite Youth Soccer: An Investigation of Prognostic Validity in a Prospective Study. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3(115), 638227. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.638227
• Leyhr, D., Raabe, J., Schultz, F., Kelava, A., & Höner, O. (2020). The adolescent motor performance development of elite female soccer players: A study of prognostic relevance for future success in adulthood using multilevel modelling. Journal of Sports Sciences, 38(11-12), 1342-1351. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2019.1686940
• Höner, O., Raabe, J., Murr, D., & Leyhr, D. (2019). Prognostic relevance of motor tests in elite girls’ soccer: a five-year prospective cohort study within the German talent promotion program. Science and Medicine in Football, 3(4), 287-296. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2019.1609069
• Murr, D., Raabe, J., & Höner, O. (2018). The prognostic value of physiological and physical characteristics in youth soccer: A systematic review. European Journal of Sport Science, 18(1), 62-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2017.1386719
• Höner, O., Leyhr, D. & Kelava, A. (2017). The influence of speed abilities and technical skills in early adolescence on adult success in soccer: A long-term prospective analysis using ANOVA and SEM approaches. PLoS ONE, 12(8), e0182211. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182211
• Höner, O., & Votteler, A. (2016). Prognostic relevance of motor talent predictors in early adolescence: A group- and individual-based evaluation considering different levels of achievement in youth football. Journal of Sports Sciences, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1177658
• Höner, O., Votteler, A., Schmid, M., Schultz, F., & Roth, K. (2015). Psychometric properties of the motor diagnostics in the German football talent identification and development programme. Journal of Sports Sciences 33(2), 145-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2014.928416

Prognostic relevance of sport-psychological talent characteristics [Topic 2]

• Wachsmuth, S., Feichtinger, P., Bartley, J., & Höner, O. (2024). Psychological characteristics and future success: A prospective study examining youth soccer players at different stages within the German talent development pathway. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 36(2), 276-300. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2023.2224868
• Murr, D., Feichtinger, P., Larkin, P., O‘Connor, D. & Höner, O. (2018). Psychological talent predictors in youth soccer: A systematic review of the prognostic relevance of psychomotor, perceptual-cognitive and personality-related factors. PloS ONE, 13(10), e0205337. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205337
• Höner, O., & Feichtinger, P. (2016). Psychological talent predictors in early adolescence and their empirical relationship with current and future performance in soccer. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 25, 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2016.03.004
• Feichtinger, P., & Höner, O. (2015). Talented football players' development of achievement motives, volitional components, and self-referential cognitions: A longitudinal study. European Journal of Sport Science, 15(8), 748-756. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2015.1051134
• Feichtinger, P., & Höner, O. (2014). Psychological diagnostics in the talent development program of the German football association: psychometric properties of an internet-based test battery. Sportwissenschaft, 44(4), 203-213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-014-0341-0   

Relative age and biological maturity [Topic 3]

• Leyhr, D., Murr, D., Hirte, M., & Höner, O. (2026). The influence of biological maturity status on the German talent pathway in youth elite soccer: Insights into selection biases, differences in playing positions and team performance within national selection tournaments. Journal of Sports Sciences, 44(6), 663-673. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2601336
• Leyhr, D., Rösch, D., Cumming, S. P., & Höner, O. (2024). Selection-Dependent Differences in Youth Elite Basketball Players’ Relative Age, Maturation-Related Characteristics, and Motor Performance. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 95(3), 775-788. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2024.2311644
• Leyhr, D., Murr, D., Romann, M., Eichler, K., Basten, L., Hauser, T., Lüdin, D., & Höner, O. (2023). Assessing biological maturity timing by MRI and coaches’ eye in elite youth soccer players: A comparison between objective and subjective diagnostics utilizing correlation and single case analyses. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 18(4), 994-1002. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541231152820
• Leyhr, D., Bergmann, F., Schreiner, R., Mann, D. L., Dugandzic, D., & Höner, O. (2021). Relative age-related biases in objective and subjective assessments of performance in talented youth soccer players. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3(94). https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.664231
• Leyhr, D., Murr, D., Basten, L., Eichler, K., Hauser, T., Lüdin, D., Romann, M., Sardo, G., & Höner, O. (2020). Biological Maturity Status in Elite Youth Soccer Players: A Comparison of Pragmatic Diagnostics with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2(195). https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2020.587861
• Votteler, A., & Höner, O. (2017). Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of the relative age effect in German youth football. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, 47(3), 194-204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-017-0457-0
• Votteler, A., & Höner, O. (2014). The relative age effect in the German Football TID Programme: Biases in motor performance diagnostics and effects on single motor abilities and skills in groups of selected players. European Journal of Sport Science, 14(5), 433-442. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2013.837510

Sporting and non-sporting environment [Topic 4]

• Bergmann, F., Wachsmuth, S., Metke, C., O’Connor, D., Dugandzic, D., & Höner, O. (2025). Fostering learning-supportive coaching in a nationwide talent development program: Mixed-methods evaluation of a research-informed soccer coach education initiative. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2025.2541637
• Bergmann, F., Wachsmuth, S., O’Connor, D., Larkin, P., Dugandzic, D., & Höner, O. (2025). Practice design and coaching to support learning in elite youth soccer players: Recommendations from international coaches, coach educators, and researchers. International Sport Coaching Journal, 12(3), 362-375. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2023-0079
• Hauser, L.-L., Höner, O., O’Connor, D., & Wachsmuth, S. (2025). Exploring the Interplay of Functional and Dysfunctional Environmental Features: A Case Study of a TDE in a German Olympic Sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2025.2576171
• Wachsmuth, S., Hauser, L.-L., Gierens, F.C., Wolf, S.A., Hermann, H.-D., & Höner, O. (2025). Examining players’ perceived social support across organizational levels and its links to holistic talent development outcomes in German football youth academies. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 76, 102756, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102756
• Harwood, C.G., Johnston, J., & Wachsmuth, S. (2024). Positive Youth Development and Talent Development: Embracing Dual Intentions in a Multi-layered Environment. In N. Holt and M. Donough (Eds.), Positive Youth Development through Sport (3^rd edition). Routledge.
• Hauser, L.-L., Höner, O., & Wachsmuth, S. (2024). Links between environmental features and developmental outcomes of elite youth athletes: A cross-sectional study within the German talent pathway. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 71, 102569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102569
• Kelly, A. L., Eveleigh, C., Bergmann, F., Höner, O., Braybook, K. Vahia, D., Finnegan, L., Finn, S., Verbeek, J., Jonker, L., Ferguson, M. P., & Dugdale, J. (2024). International perspectives: Evaluating Male Talent Pathways Across the Globe. In A. L. Kelly (Ed.) Talent Identification and Development in Youth Soccer: A Guide for Researchers and Practitioners (pp. 228-262). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032232799
• Höner, O., Larkin, P., Leber, T., & Feichtinger, P. (2023). Talent Identification and Development in Sport. In J. Schüler, M. Wegner, H. Plessner, & R. C. Eklund (Eds.), Sport and Exercise Psychology: Theory and Application (pp. 549-581). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-03921-8_23
• Larkin, P., Spittle, M., Farrow, D., Maximos, Y., & Höner, O. (2023). The golden generation of Australian Soccer: understanding the factors which influenced their development. Soccer & Society, 1041-1055. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2023.2192486
• Hauser, L. L., Harwood, C. G., Höner, O., O’Connor, D., & Wachsmuth, S. (2022). Talent development environments within sports: a scoping review examining functional and dysfunctional environmental features. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2022.2129423

• Bergmann, F. (2025). Fostering Youth Soccer Players’ Action Competence through Learning-Supportive Coaching and Learning-Oriented Assessment. An Investigation within the German Talent Development Program. Dissertation. University of Tübingen. http://dx.doi.org/10.15496/publikation-115233
• Rösch, D. (2024). Erfassung personbezogener Talentmerkmale im Nachwuchsbasketball – Empirische Untersuchungen zur Evaluation von Diagnostiken und möglichen Einflussfaktoren (Assessment of person-related talent characteristics in youth basketball – Empirical investigations regarding the evaluation of diagnostics and potential influencing factors). Dissertation. University of Tübingen. http://dx.doi.org/10.15496/publikation-94248
• Leyhr, D. (2019). Motorische Talentprädiktoren im DFB-Talentförderprogramm: Eine längsschnittliche Datenanalyse zur prognostischen Bedeutung schnelligkeits- und technikbezogener Merkmale unter Verwendung von latenten Strukturgleichungs- und Mehrebenenmodellen (Motor talent predictors in the DFB talent development program: A longitudinal data analysis to determine the prognostic relevance of speed- and technique-related characteristics using latent structural equation and multilevel models). Dissertation. University of Tübingen. http://dx.doi.org/10.15496/publikation-32580
• Murr, D. (2018). Prognoserelevanz personbezogener Talentprädiktoren im Fußball: eine systematische Analyse zur empirischen Evidenz unter Berücksichtigung von Merkmalen des Studiendesigns (Prognostic relevance of person-related talent predictors in soccer: a systematic analysis of empirical evidence considering features of the study design). Dissertation. University of Tübingen. http://dx.doi.org/10.15496/publikation-26360
• Votteler, A. (2017). Der relative Alterseffekt im deutschen Nachwuchsfußball (The relative age effect in German youth soccer). Dissertation. Universität Tübingen. http://dx.doi.org/10.15496/publikation-19059
• Feichtinger, P. (2015). Psychological diagnostics in the talent development program of the German Soccer Association: A stepwise procedure to examine the relevance of personality characteristics in talented soccer players. Dissertation. University of Tübingen. http://dx.doi.org/10.15496/publikation-8552

• O. Höner: Sportwissenschaftliche Begleitung des DFB-Talentförderprogramms (Sports science support for the DFB talent development program). [Deutscher Fußball-Bund, Project duration: 2014 - 2017; 2017 - 2020; 2021; 2022 - 2023; 2024 - 2026]
• D. Leyhr: Wissenschaftliche Auswertung des Pilotprojekts „Lösungsansätze zum Umgang mit dem relativen Alterseffekt“ im Basketballverband Baden-Württemberg e. V. (Scientific evaluation of the pilot project “Approaches for dealing with the relative age effect” in the Basketball Association of Baden-Württemberg). [Deutscher Basketball Ausbildungsfonds e. V., Deutscher Basketball Bund e. V., Basketballverband Baden-Württemberg e. V., Project duration: 2024 - 2025]
• D. Leyhr: Erfassung und Berücksichtigung des biologischen Entwicklungsstandes in der Talentidentifikation und -entwicklung im Nachwuchsleistungsbasketball (Assessment and consideration of biological maturity status in talent identification and development in elite youth basketball). [Universität Tübingen, Fund for the promotion of early-career researchers, Project duration: 2023 - 2025]
• S. Wachsmuth: Sozialpsychologische Faktoren der Talententwicklung (Socio-psychological factors in talent development). [Universität Tübingen, Fund for the promotion of early-career researchers, Project duration: 2020 - 2022]
• O. Höner & K. Roth: Sportwissenschaftliche Begleitung des DFB-Talentförderprogramms (Sports science support for the DFB talent development program). [Deutscher Fußball-Bund, Project duration: 2008 - 2010; 2011 - 2013]
• O. Höner & K. Willimczik: Homo Sportivus Oeconomicus – Intrinsische und extrinsische Motivation im Verlauf von Spitzensportkarrieren (Homo Sportivus Oeconomicus – Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation throughout elite sports careers). [Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft, VF071012/06, Project duration: 2005 - 2007]