When does ones talent become obvious?

[thewobbler]

If you're talking about ability to reach the top level, I don't think there can be such a thing as a set age. Technique and natural understanding can be recognised at a very early age, but it's what puberty (I hate that word) does to them that determines if they're going to have the speed and athleticism required. For some youngsters, it might be until they're 18 before it's clear.

[ballymac]

I think that Arsne may have been correct in saying
At 12 you can detect if technically a player can make it or not. At 14 to 16 you can detect if physically he will be able to cope with the demands of professional sport. And from 16 to 18 you can start to see if a player understands how to connect with other players. At 20 the mental side of things kick in. How does he prepare? How does he cope with life's temptations and the sacrifices a top player must make? This is a job where you must be ready. If you get a chance, you have to take it.

So talent may be evident at a young age, as young as 8, but only time will tell if they develop into truly talented players. Also what level of talent are you talking about? Is it the ability to play the game at youth level, club level or at the top level.
I have witnessed young players 'grow into themselves' and improve from the age of 14 - 18 while so called better players never improved. During my playing days (bad knee could have been etc ) I seen some players go in both directions.
But for me talent is the having something that can't be coached (a topic of its own) and that is determination to succeed, improve, develop. When coaching young players and you see them develop a skill, they have a talent. When you  see a young player turn a game around when the chips are down, he has a talent.
There are plenty of top class inter county footballers who never were outstanding in youth football. Phillip Jordan never played for his school team or Tyrone minors but he was determined to succeed.

[DownFanatic]

Give me commitment and good attitude over talent anyday.

[Onion Bag]

I think that Arsne may have been correct in saying
At 12 you can detect if technically a player can make it or not. At 14 to 16 you can detect if physically he will be able to cope with the demands of professional sport. And from 16 to 18 you can start to see if a player understands how to connect with other players. At 20 the mental side of things kick in. How does he prepare? How does he cope with life's temptations and the sacrifices a top player must make? This is a job where you must be ready. If you get a chance, you have to take it.

So talent may be evident at a young age, as young as 8, but only time will tell if they develop into truly talented players. Also what level of talent are you talking about? Is it the ability to play the game at youth level, club level or at the top level.
I have witnessed young players 'grow into themselves' and improve from the age of 14 - 18 while so called better players never improved. During my playing days (bad knee could have been etc ) I seen some players go in both directions.
But for me talent is the having something that can't be coached (a topic of its own) and that is determination to succeed, improve, develop. When coaching young players and you see them develop a skill, they have a talent. When you  see a young player turn a game around when the chips are down, he has a talent.
There are plenty of top class inter county footballers who never were outstanding in youth football. Phillip Jordan never played for his school team or Tyrone minors but he was determined to succeed.

Yes he did,

[ONeill]

There are plenty of top class inter county footballers who never were outstanding in youth football. Phillip Jordan never played for his school team or Tyrone minors but he was determined to succeed.

Jordan was a star player at school level. He won everything as a minor.

[Onion Bag]

There are plenty of top class inter county footballers who never were outstanding in youth football. Phillip Jordan never played for his school team or Tyrone minors but he was determined to succeed.

Jordan was a star player at school level. He won everything as a minor.

Not sure were ballymac is getting his info

[Lar Naparka]

I suppose it can be difficult to answer as everyone develops at a different pace but when does it become obvious that a young kid is going to be a decent footballer?

What talents should they possess at what age? I'm curious to know experiences of other juvenile coaches.

By "decent player" I assume you mean a senior player.
I don't think you can ever be 100% sure until he finally gets there. There are so many factors involved as a lad is growing up that you can't be sure until he "arrives."
I'm not including injury here either.
An u12 can show lots of natural skill and ooze confidence but may undergo a lot of change as he grows older.
The changes can be either physical or mental.
He just might not grow sufficiently to compete at senior level. Ther's no way really to predict when he will stop growing. He could well develop other interests and drop GAA entirely or not bother trying to develop his skills further for any number of reasons.
Some like Kieran Donaghy are late developers. He first came to notice while playing for the underdogs- the TG4 compition.
Ronan McGarrity was first and foremost a basketball player and if Liam McHale hadn't spotted his potential and pushed him onto John Maughan's squad, he'd not have been a senior player at all.
Even good u21s don't always deliver the good either or else have to struggle hard to eventually make the grade.
From my own experience I'd say about one in six  good u16s will go the whole way and it's impossible to predict who will do so at that age.

[ballymac]

There are plenty of top class inter county footballers who never were outstanding in youth football. Phillip Jordan never played for his school team or Tyrone minors but he was determined to succeed.

Jordan was a star player at school level. He won everything as a minor.

Not sure were ballymac is getting his info

From the man himself. I think he would know best. He was at a youth presentation explaining how he had the determination to succeed but was not a first choice player on his school team or county team at youth level.

[Orior]

Greg Blaney was identified as a great talent in first year of Secondary School.

[clarshack]

i'm pretty sure philip jordan played for st pats armagh in the 1997 macrory cup final

[dundrumite]

lads if any of you have interest in this subject, I highly suggest the books "bounce" and the "talent code." Looks at some fascinating case studies and tries to rationalise whether talent is nature or nurture. In more cases than not it is the product of early exposure to the sport, quality of environment they are learning in and deep deliberate practice.

[Hardy]

I was a legend at under-age.

leg'end n. A tale (or collection of related tales) popularly regarded as true but usually mostly fictional.

[Orchardman]

i'm pretty sure philip jordan played for st pats armagh in the 1997 macrory cup final

yea, played for st pats armagh along with cormac mcanallen, got beaten by dungannon in the final. i'm pretty sure he would also have been part of tyrone 97/98 teams as well

[mylestheslasher]

You know a players talent has become obvious when kildare try to poach him

[Donnellys Hollow]

or when they're dropped off the Cavan panel