Examinando por Autor "Lorenzo Calvo, Alberto"

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    Birthplace and birthdate effect during talent process in professional soccer academy players
    (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024-06) Hernández Simal, Lander; Calleja González, Julio; Lorenzo Calvo, Alberto; Aurrekoetxea Casaus, Maite
    The main objective of this study was to detect, from among a set of innate, acquired, and contextual factors, those variables that are ascribed to players ultimately promoted to the professional team of a Spanish league club during the earlier selection and development phases. The data were presented in frequencies and correlations and by means of a classificatory cluster model. The variables used for the analyses included date of birth, birthplace density, player position, laterality, academy entry stage, international participation, and debutant status. These variables were related to the talent selection and promotion phases (i.e., academy entry stage and player debut). A dataset of information on 1411 players from the last 30 seasons of the Athletic Club de Bilbao (1993–2021) was used. Regarding the results, first, there was an over-representation of players with respect to their Q1 birth date and K5 density quintile in the selection phase; however, once players joined the academy, their chances of promotion (debut) fell for players in the Q4 birth date and K3 density quintiles. Second, there was a significant correlation between players’ debut and the stage of incorporation (p < 0.01; V = 0.46) and internationalisation (p < 0.01; V = 0.5). Finally, the birthplace density and laterality variables converged as classificatory features of the players.
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    Birthplace effect in soccer: a systematic review
    (Termedia Publishing House Ltd., 2024) Hernández Simal, Lander; Calleja González, Julio; Lorenzo Calvo, Alberto; Aurrekoetxea Casaus, Maite
    Birthplace is a contextual variable that influences the talent development process of soccer players. The main objective of this systematic review was to compile the scientific literature on the effect of birthplace in soccer. This is the first systematic review to investigate how this contextual factor relates to talent development in soccer. Using the PRISMA methodology, the analysis of the 14 articles that were part of the final review concluded with three main discursive themes: the place of birth and population size, composition of the birthplace and socio-demographic characteristics of the population, and the place of birth and the location of high performance sport centres. This review shows that there are several underlying elements for understanding the effect of the place of birth on the development of talent in soccer. The combination of population density and the level of facilities in the place where the player was born are key in the development of a soccer player. It is not only about the place as a space, but also about what that space means for the development of the player's soccer skills. The findings not only highlight the characteristics of the areas, in terms of density and equipment supply, identified as talent hotspots, but also provide an opportunity to critically reflect on current practices of talent identification and development in soccer.
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    Place matters: a study on the influence of birthplace and the place of development on soccer academy players’ careers
    (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024-04) Hernández Simal, Lander; Calleja González, Julio; Larruskain, Jon; Lorenzo Calvo, Alberto; Aurrekoetxea Casaus, Maite
    The effect of birthplace (the place where a player is born and grows up) is one of the key variables associated with soccer player development and achievement. However, recent studies have questioned the influence of contextual variables on selection and promotion processes related to birthplace. The main purposes of this study were: (1) establish whether there is a difference between the birthplace and sporting growth according to the stages of entry into the academy, (2) to evaluate the influence of geographical and contextual variables on sporting development, and (3) assess the chances of making a professional team debut. Applied logistic regression was used in order to analyse the birthplace and growth of 1411 male soccer players, of which 40.1% are incorporated in the U-12 category from a Spanish First division club, and the results showed a statistically significant association between a change from one’s birthplace to the place of sporting growth and later success (79%). Key contextual variables such as number of inhabitants, population density, proximity to sports facilities, average household income and presence of sports clubs have been considered. The analysis of the contextual variables revealed that there was a positive relationship between certain variables, like a higher population, and being selected for the academy (p < 0.01; r = 0.28). Finally, the findings showed that players who experienced a geographical transition were 38% more likely to make a professional debut. The importance of considering the place of sporting growth when analysing the “birthplace effect” has therefore been demonstrated