Morphofunctional profile and is impact on the early detection of talent in yourth football

Abstract

Formative football constitutes a key setting for the development of physical, motor, and social skills in children and adolescents. Early talent identification allows the recognition of young athletes with developmental potential, taking into account both immediate performance and the physical and functional characteristics typical of their growth stage. The aim of this study was to analyze the morphofunctional profile and its influence on early talent identification in formative football. The study was conducted using a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental, descriptive-correlational design. The population consisted of 31 players aged 11 to 12 from sports schools in Macas, selected through convenience sampling. Morphological variables (height, weight, body circumferences, BMI) and physical capacities (speed, agility, horizontal jump, endurance, and balance) were assessed using standardized tests. The results showed moderate improvements in speed, agility, horizontal jump, endurance, and balance between the initial and final measurements, while maintaining BMI values appropriate for age and developmental stage. These findings indicate that the morphofunctional profile serves as a reliable indicator for identifying sports talent at formative stages, enabling more objective planning of training and development strategies. Systematic evaluation of the morphofunctional profile contributes to optimizing early talent identification in formative football, supporting comprehensive development based on measurable criteria.