Exploring the essential characteristics for talent identification in volleyball: Insights from elite coaches

Talent identification (TI) programmes in sports, such as volleyball, often rely on subjective evaluations without formal guidelines, leading to inconsistent talent selection. While the Expanded Model of Talent Development (EMTD) is a widely adopted framework for TI, it lacks sport-specific criteria. The aims of this study are to elaborate on the EMTD by identifying key anthropometric, physiological, and skill characteristics for TI of adolescent volleyball players from the perspectives of elite coaches (i.e., national or international- level coaches), and to explore how biomechanics support coaches’ traditional TI methods. Data collection involved two online Nominal Group Technique (NGT) meetings with eight elite volleyball coaches. Quantitative analysis of coaches’ rankings and qualitative examination of transcripts were conducted. The coaches selected and consolidated nine key characteristics for TI in volleyball. These included three anthropometric characteristics (standing reach height, peak height velocity, and arm span), four physiological characteristics (vertical jump, speed, agility, and core strength/stability), and two skill characteristics (hand-eye coordination and perceptual skills/spatial awareness). Regarding biomechanics, the coaches’ perspectives ranged from scepticism to strong support. Some coaches advocated for low-cost field-based assessments (e.g., vertical jump, chalk tests), while others recommended advanced lab-based assessments (e.g., movement analysis and physical screening) to enhance efficiency, injury prevention, and objectivity in TI. These insights informed a two-tiered list of recommended assessments. Coaches should consider applying these tests to identify talented volleyball players. Sports biomechanics can assist in this process. Further research involving longitudinal tests is necessary to examine the effects of these characteristics over time.