Simply the best, better than all the rest? : Validity issues in selections in elite sport

• Selecting the ‘right’ athletes to competitions and games is crucial in eventually deciding winners and champions. Thus, thepurpose of this study was to discuss selections to top-level sport teams using validity concepts as theoretical points ofdeparture. Drawing on data from 14 semi-structured interviews with elite coaches (selectors) in football (n¼8) andalpine skiing (n¼6), this article adds to the knowledge on rationales behind selection decisions in elite sport, howselections are performed and with what consequences. Results point to several key validity concerns in selectionprocesses such as the (non) use of explicit selection criteria, lack of structure in selection processes and coaches’giving way to gut feelings and their ‘eyes for the sport‘ instead of utilizing various selection aids at hand.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Pedagogik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Pedagogy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Association football

Alpine skiing

decision making

high-performance coaches

soccer

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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