Construction of Selection Indicator System for Men's Soccer Players in Chinese Colleges and Universities

Abstract

This study aims to construct a selection indicator system for male soccer players in Chinese colleges and universities through the following four research objectives: 1. To study the selection indicators for each position of male soccer players in Chinese colleges and universities, 2. To determine the weight of the evaluation indicators for selecting male soccer players in Chinese colleges and universities, 3. To assess the reasonableness of the selection indicators and scoring criteria, 4. To validate the effectiveness of the evaluation indicators for selecting male soccer players. The main goal of the research is to develop scientific and comprehensive evaluation standards for players in different positions (goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, forwards), determine the weight of these indicators, evaluate the reasonableness of the scoring criteria, and validate the system's practical effectiveness through data analysis. The research sample includes 80 male soccer players, with the elite group (national first- and second-level athletes) from Guangxi University for Nationalities and the general group from Guangdong Vocational and Technical College. The research methods employed include literature review, expert interviews, T-tests, regression analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), ensuring that the selection system is scientific and applicable.

Phase 1: Through a literature review and expert interviews, the study identified selection indicators suitable for each position (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, forward). The research analyzed existing football selection theories and practical methods from domestic and international sources, incorporating expert feedback to propose an initial indicator framework. After two rounds of expert discussions, six primary indicators were finalized: body morphology, physiological function, physical fitness, psychological attributes, technical skills, and match performance. These indicators cover key aspects of a player's physical, technical, and psychological abilities. In addition to the primary indicators, secondary indicators were further refined for each position. Goalkeepers had 87 secondary indicators, while defenders, midfielders, and forwards each had 84 secondary indicators. These indicators were adjusted to meet the specific demands of each position; for instance, goalkeepers focus on save success rates and reaction times, while defenders emphasize interception and tackling skills. This phase established a solid theoretical foundation for subsequent data collection and analysis.

Phase 2: This phase focused on assigning appropriate weights to each primary and secondary indicator through data analysis. Data was collected from 80 football players and processed using statistical methods such as T-tests and regression analysis to filter key indicators. T-tests were used to identify significant differences in performance between elite and general players, ensuring that the selection system could effectively reflect the differences in player abilities. Regression analysis was then applied to further refine key secondary indicators, followed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to simplify the data structure and extract the most representative indicators. Finally, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to assign weights to each primary and secondary indicator. The main results were as follows: match performance emerged as the most important primary indicator for all positions, with a weight of 0.4837 for goalkeepers, 0.2912 for defenders, 0.4269 for midfielders, and 0.5056 for forwards, with an average weight of 0.42685. This underscores the importance of match performance, particularly for forwards and goalkeepers, where it serves as the primary determinant of selection. Psychological attributes carried higher weights for goalkeepers (0.2312) and midfielders (0.2050), with an average weight of 0.1741, highlighting the importance of psychological stability in high-pressure situations. Physical fitness was more critical for defenders (0.2300) and midfielders (0.1738), with an average weight of 0.173625, emphasizing the need for endurance and physical strength in these positions. Technical skills carried the highest weight for forwards (0.1908), reflecting the demand for precision and attacking capabilities in this position. This phase accurately determined the relative importance of each indicator for different positions, establishing a scientific and quantitative selection system.

Phase 3: This phase focused on evaluating the validity of the selection indicators and scoring criteria to ensure their applicability in actual selection processes. Regression analysis was used to calculate the scores for goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards based on their match performance and other key attributes. Goalkeepers: top-level goalkeepers demonstrated superior match performance, psychological stability, and save success rates. Scores ranged from 65.38 to 100 points, confirming the accuracy of the scoring criteria. Defenders: defensive ability and physical fitness were the main contributors to defenders' scores. High-level defenders scored between 90 and 100 points, while general-level defenders scored lower (40.00–59.00 points), reflecting significant performance differences. Midfielders: passing accuracy and ball control were key factors for midfielders. Elite midfielders scored between 91.23 and 100 points, while general-level midfielders scored between 60 and 70 points, showing clear distinctions in performance. Forwards: shooting accuracy and attacking awareness were critical factors for forwards. Elite forwards scored between 93.93 and 100 points, while general-level forwards scored between 40.00 and 59.00 points. The evaluation results confirmed that the current scoring criteria can accurately distinguish between elite and general players, especially in terms of match performance, technical skills, and psychological stability.

Phase 4: This final phase involved validating the selection system through regression testing, ensuring the model's effectiveness in real-world applications. Players from all four positions were ranked and grouped based on their scores, and the results were compared with their actual performance. Goalkeepers: regression analysis confirmed that high-level goalkeepers outperformed general-level goalkeepers in terms of save success rate and reaction time. Elite goalkeepers consistently scored higher, with top-ranked goalkeepers scoring up to 100 points, while general-level goalkeepers scored as low as 40.78 points. Defenders: elite defenders demonstrated significantly better defensive skills and physical fitness, with scores ranging from 90 to 100 points. General-level defenders scored between 40 and 59 points, confirming the model's ability to differentiate between performance levels. Midfielders: key indicators such as passing accuracy and game vision strongly correlated with elite midfielders' scores, which ranged from 91.23 to 100 points. General-level midfielders scored below 70 points, further validating the model's accuracy in evaluating midfield players. Forwards: elite forwards displayed superior shooting accuracy and offensive awareness, with scores ranging from 93.93 to 100 points. General-level forwards scored between 40 and 59 points, confirming the model's capability to differentiate between high and low performers. Regression testing across all positions confirmed the selection model’s validity and reliability, providing accurate assessments of players’ abilities and effectively distinguishing between elite and general-level athletes.

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