ABSTRACT
Identifying, developing and nurturing players have become priorities in soccer. The spiralling costs of purchasing players on the transfer market as well as the ‘Bosnian Ruling’ by the European Court of Human Rights in 1995, which precludes clubs from withholding a player’s registration at the completion of his contract, have reinforced the need for clubs to implement appropriate talent identification and development structures. Identifying soccer potential at an early age ensures that players receive specialised coaching to accelerate the talent development process. With the increased need to develop and nurture young talented players, it is essential to determine key elements of the talent identification process in soccer.
