Academy coaches’ experiences of managing individual differences in the maturity of male Gaelic football players

Player selection for representative teams is often based upon subjective assessments of player ability and potential (i.e., the 'coaches’ eye'), which may be confounded by individual difference in biological maturation (Fitzgerald et al., 2024). Little is known about coaches’ perceptions and understanding of growth and maturation, particularly in relation to the processes of player selection and development. This study explored coaches’ knowledge, beliefs and experiences related to the impact of growth and maturation upon player selection and development in Gaelic football. Using qualitative methods, 12 coaches from an academy in Ireland participated in focus groups to explore their beliefs and experiences related to this topic. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings indicated that coaches were aware of the physical and functional changes that occur during puberty and the differing performance trajectories of early- and late-maturing players. Similarly, they identified challenges in initial selection of players, including maturity and size-based biases, and the long-term implications of maturation upon success at the adult level. A gap emerged between coaches’ knowledge of growth and maturation and their ability to design and implement effective support strategies, with approaches varying among coaches. Additionally, all coaches expressed a strong desire for further education on this topic. There is a need for bespoke educational initiatives for academy coaches focused on developing a rich set of strategies to support players of varying maturation through identification and development, as well as a process for identifying the optimal strategy for the context.