Applied Coaching Research Journal Research Journal Volume 2 | Page 37

APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2018, Vol. 2
understanding of the talent identification process
within an academy environment.
From a talent development perspective, this model
may also support a coach or practitioner, and
subsequen tly their players, through gauging current
performance from an interdisciplinary viewpoint
to facilitate the opportunity to develop individual
strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, this model
applies an individualised approach, similar to
Gulbin and Weissensteiner’s (2013) 3D-AD ‘beehive’
conceptual model of expertise. Furthermore, it may
be considered each player’s patterned indent on the
LWNM regarding each of these factors may differ
depending on what activity the player is engaging
in, whilst also highlighting how one player can look
very different from another within the same age
group (Figure 2). Consequently, the LWNM provides
a flexible, user-friendly concept in support of an
applied talent identification and development
process in elite youth football.
An ‘interdisciplinary’ approach
By identifying an individual player’s locking wheel
nut profile, a coach or practitioner is firstly able
to begin to consider whether the potential athlete
possesses the relevant characteristics required to
engage in an elite youth football setting. Secondly,
professional staff within an academy environment
are able to illustrate strengths and weaknesses
within each discipline, thus facilitating the ability
to create an individualised support programme,
such as incorporating football-specific technical
and tactical strategies, alongside performance
analysis, physiotherapy/sports therapy, sport
science, strength and conditioning, psychology, and
education and welfare support, where required.
As a result, not only does the LWNM offer a fully
integrated multidisciplinary approach to talent
identification, it also highlights the interdisciplinary
nature of the talent development process (Figure
3). The term ‘interdisciplinary approach’ has been
applied to this model, as a consequence of the
research from each discipline combining and
working in conjunction to develop and apply a
shared conceptual framework, that integrates
discipline-specific concepts and methodologies to
address a common research focus.
Figure 3: The Locking Wheel Nut Model – an
example of the application of an interdisciplinary
concept
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