Exploring decision indicators for selecting elite players in youth male singles badminton: based on anthropometric indicators

This study aims to explore selection indicators for elite male youth singles badminton player based on anthropometric through a Delphi survey. To achieve this, five badminton experts reviewed previous studies and held meetings to derive preliminary indicators. Based on these preliminary indicators, 14 experts conducted two rounds of Delphi surveys. Finally, 13 experts calculated the importance and priority of the indicators derived from the Delphi surveys through an analytic hierarchy process. The results of the study are as follows: first, through a literature review and expert meetings, two primary indicators (physique and motor performance), five secondary indicators (length, circumference, composition, physical strength and coordination ability) and 32 tertiary indicators were constructed to determine the selection criteria for elite players. Second, by conducting two rounds of Delphi surveys, seven sub-indicators for physique (length = 3, circumference = 2, composition = 2), and eight sub-indicators for motor performance (physical strength = 6, coordination ability = 2) were selected. Finally, based on the indicators selected through the Delphi survey, the analytic hierarchy process revealed that height was the top priority for physique (length), followed by thigh circumference for physique (circumference), fat-free mass for physique (composition), agility for motor performance (physical strength) and visual ability for motor performance (coordination ability). These findings can be used as objective indicators to select and evaluate elite young male singles badminton players in future sports settings.

Badminton; Selecting elite players; Men’s singles player; Delphi; Analytic hierarchy process

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