Introduction: Soccer coaches are critical to academies as they are central to identifying players with the potential to succeed (i.e., talent). Research suggests coaches perceive skill as determining players` potential. Regardless, researchers only broadly explored their views and quantified players` skill using objective measures, which is problematic as coaches still rely on their subjective intuition. A plausible reason is that skill assessments do not meet coaches` needs. Objective: So,this study explored academy soccer coaches` perspectives on skilfulness. Methods: Participants required a minimum B-level AFC/FA Pro Coaching Licence and five years` experience for inclusion. Australian soccer coaches (n = 4) and academy directors (n = 7) (Mage = 35.90 ± 8.36 years; Mexperience = 14 ± 7.02 years) participated in semi-structured interviews (Mtime = 50.73 ± 7.33). Results: We analysed coaches` responses using reflexive thematic analysis, generating four themes describing skilful players as i) technically proficient, ii) adaptable, iii) effective decision-makers, and iv) influential to their team`s success. We produced three themes on the situational and contextual nature of their views, perceiving skill through a v) developmental lens, relying on their vi) experiential knowledge, and their views were vii) context-specific. Conclusion: Additional research is needed to create a refined conceptual model for assessing soccer skilfulness.
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