Early Engagement


Much research investigating the developmental pathways to expert performance in sport has identified two main avenues: 1) the early specialization pathway – involving early engagement (6-12 years) in the primary sport only, and 2) the early diversification pathway – involving early activity (6-12 years) in a number of different sports and delayed specialisation (13-15 years) in the primary sport.


However, recent research has provided evidence of a third developmental pathway to expert performance – the early engagement pathway. This pathway involves high amounts of engagement in the primary sport (football in this case), but also playing a number of other sports during childhood (6-12 years) before specialising. This appears to be the path of Michael and Graeme.


History profiles of professional football players show that during childhood they engaged in an average of four different sports.


The most popular were athletics, swimming, tennis, basketball, table tennis, rugby, pool, and cricket. Overall they played more football than other sports and what separated them from players that were released from academies was the greater amount of unstructured football they played – i.e. in the garden, in the park or the street, which resonates with Michael’s story.


During early adolescence (13-15 years), they continued to play high amounts of unstructured football, meaning that playful activities are important right through a player’s journey. But what exactly is it about play that is so important to development?


Research shows that the random elements of play (compared to more rigid drill-based practice), with ever changing patterns of players and problems, is essential for developing the physical co- ordination, perceptual and decision-making skills essential to high level performance.


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