Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>To support the call for the development of a reliable and objective methodology for identifying the characteristics of elite athletes and attempting to predict peak performance levels, the researcher developed selection and classification models by determining standard scores for explosive strength tests (CMJ and SJ). Given the nature of the research, the researcher adopted a descriptive approach using a survey method, where the research sample was selected using a purposive sampling method, comprising 252 soccer players in the under-13 age group representing various schools and soccer academies in the eastern region. After collecting and organizing the data, it was statistically analyzed using the SPSS 26 statistical package. The researcher established standard reference levels. The arithmetic mean for the research sample in the CMJ test was (24.52 ± 4.27). The performance levels of the research sample were defined as follows: Very Good (Grade 5) [ [37.328–32.24], Good [32.24–27.082], Acceptable [27.082–21.958], Weak [21.958–16.958], and Very Weak [16.958–11.834], while the arithmetic mean of the research sample in the test was − 22.59 (sj4.38), and the levels were determined at the fifth grade: very good ] 35.73–30.475], good [30.474–25.218], acceptable [25.218–19.962], weak [19.962–14.706], very weak [14.706–9.45] In light of these findings, the researcher made several recommendations, the most important of which was the need for coaches to rely on the physical tests under study and the standard levels established by the researcher during the selection process for soccer players under 13 years of age.</p>