4B034E - Talent Identification, Recruitment and Development: Frameworks and Principles 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 1
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | 4B034E | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Talent Identification, Recruitment and Development: Frameworks and Principles | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Life Sciences and Education | ||
| Faculty Group: | Sport | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Football Coaching | ||
| Module Leader: | Liviu Cristea | ||
| Module Team: | Ioan Paval, Jayne Ludlow, Jonathan Jones | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2026 | Final Year of Intake: | 2031 |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 30 | Credit Level: | 4 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 100095 - sports coaching | ||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 100 | ||
Document Version Information
| Version | 1 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2026 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2032 |
Module Aims
The main aims of the module are:
Introduce students to the foundational frameworks and principles that guide talent identification and early player development in football.
Develop an understanding of fundamental movement skills, perceptual-cognitive abilities, and growth-related differences in young players.
Provide students with the practical skills and ethical awareness required to observe, record, and reflect upon talent within varied grassroots male, and female academy contexts.
Content Summary
This module introduces you to the core principles, frameworks, and real-world processes behind talent identification, recruitment, and early player development in football. You’ll explore how potential is spotted, supported, and developed within structured systems and UEFA pathways.
You will break down what “talent” truly means in context, learning to observe players effectively, recognise key behaviours, and understand the environmental, biological, and psychological factors that shape early development. Through applied tasks and challenge-based learning, you will analyse how movement quality, growth and maturation, and ecological constraints influence player potential and long-term progression.
By the end of the module, you will be able to apply ethical, objective, and inclusive approaches to assessing and supporting young players across both community and academy settings. You will gain the confidence and insight needed to contribute meaningfully to player identification and development in male and female football environments.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 29 |
| Groupwork | 10 |
| Guided Study | 175 |
| Problem/Challenge based learning | 29 |
| Practical Classes and Workshops | 27 |
| Formative Assessment | 8 |
| Summative Assessment | 22 |
| Total Hours Selected | 300 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Demonstrate knowledge of the key frameworks that shape talent identification and development in football (Elite Player Performance Plan, Foundations Talent, Elite, Mastery, Developmental Model of Sport Participation). |
| LO2 | Explain how physical, psychological, and environmental factors influence early player development. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Report 1 | The Player Development Report requires students to design and justify a Player Development Plan for a young player, drawing upon recognised frameworks such as the EPPP, FTEM, and DMSP models | 0 | 4700 | 100 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Report 1 | ✔ | ✔ | |