Player Development: The Holistic Method

This book utilizes the only means for conceptualizing the holistic nature of the human experience, multi-layered network theory, to develop an evidence-based method towards performance development in soccer.

The volume is aimed at both academics and professional practitioners to help influence their understanding of how to design talent programmes and training sessions which aim to develop players in a holistic way.

Extremely comprehensive in the treatment of the subject area, recognising various socio-cultural factors within the wider context (ecosystem) in which player and performance development occurs and contemporary approaches within the book’s holistic approach such as Ecological Dynamics as well as more traditional development areas.

The book features a focus on such system- and societal-influenced phenomena as relative age effect and the impact of where one grows up, recognising some well researched factors shown to have nuanced effects on player development opportunities.