Exploring the subjective beliefs of expert coaches on 'talent' and player selection in German table tennis.

This article focuses on the concept of "talent" and the player selection process in youth table tennis, based on interviews with 15 expert German coaches involved in talent identification and development. Coaches view talent as a complex, multidimensional construct influenced by factors such as relative age, maturation, practice experience ("table tennis age"), and a combination of individual (technical, cognitive, mental, and social skills) and environmental criteria (family support, coaching, infrastructure). Selection decisions typically combine subjective evaluations ("coach's eye") and objective assessments, and are made collaboratively by groups of coaches across different levels of the national system. The study highlights the importance of an open, dynamic development system that allows for late entry and emphasizes the need to consider both individual potential and environmental support in talent identification.