Abstract
One of the goals of expertise research is to apply identified mechanisms for talent selection (f.e., Elferink-Gemser, Visscher, Lemmink, & Mulder, 2004). In this project, we conducted three studies on pattern recall performance in German handball players of varying ages. In study 1, we compared adult female and male experts, advanced players, and novices on a pattern recall task. As expected, results revealed significant differences in performance across the groups. In study 2, we considered players of 14-18 year old players, again revealing differences between highly-skilled and low-skilled female and male players. In study 3, we administered the pattern recall test to 480 boys and girls aged 13-15 years who were attending the talent selection camp for the German Handball Federation. Results reveal no differences between players identified as talented and those not identified; moreover, there were no sex differences. While significant differences in pattern recall performance were found between skill groups at the adult and late teen levels, this test does not seem to be sensitive enough to differentiate skill in more homogenous groups of teenagers (cf. Lidor, Falk, Arnon, Cohen, Segal, & Lander, 2005). Additionally, these results question the extent to which expertise research can be directly applied to talent selection. Future work should continue to determine the transfer of other expertise effects (e.g., pattern recognition, quiet-eye) to talent selection domains.Acknowledgments: This study was funded by the Federal Institute of Sport Science, Germany