Talent Identification in Sport

Environmental factors have been considered as critical to successful talent development in sports. The entire backgrounds of development including the home, school, community and the organizational culture in sport should provide consistent and coherent support for the developing champions if the goal of effective talent development is to be realised. This study explored the nature of talent development environment in Nigerian in order to uncover the barriers, opportunities and facilitators of effective talent development in the country. Eight successful national athletes were interviewed. Inductive analysis revealed the barriers (e.g. family barriers, finance, facilities, lack of regular competitions, issues with injury/rehabilitation), opportunities (e.g. luck, school sport, early senior participation) and facilitators of development (e.g. hard work, peer influence, coach-athlete relationship). It was suggested that the barriers be mitigated by encouraging the relevant parties (e.g. parents, governments) to promote an enabling environment for talent development in sport. Recommendation was made for further studies.

The early identification of talented individuals has become increasingly important across many performance domains. Current talent identification (TI) schemes in sport typically select on the basis of discrete, unidimensional measures at unstable periods in the athlete’s development. In this article, the concept of talent is revised as a complex, dynamical system in which future behaviors emerge from an interaction of key performance determinants such as psychological behaviors, motor abilities, and physical characteristics. Key nonlinear dynamics concepts are related to TI approaches such as sensitivity to initial conditions, transitions, and exponential behavioral distributions. It is concluded that many TI models place an overemphasis on early identification rather than the development of potentially talented performers. A generic model of talent identification and development is proposed that addresses these issues and provides direction for future research.

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to find out the Effect of specific Football Training on Selected Motor Fitness Components, Physiological Variables and Football Skill Performances of Sub - Junior School Students. The research was carried out on a sample of 40 sub junior school students. The pretests were conducted for all subjects on all selected variables to collect data. All subjects were divided randomly in to two groups as experimental group (20) samples and as control group(20).  Experimental group was involved in specific football training for ten weeks and control groupwas out of specific training for ten weeks. The training program was performed 70-90 minutes per day, 3 days per week for a period of ten weeks. All selected physiological variables were assessed by standard  tests;  Vo2 Max by cooper test, resting heart rate; by  counting heart rate at radial artery , recovery heart rate by counting heart rate at radial artery, breathing hold capacity through nose clip test. All selected motor fitness components were also through for speed by 30 m dash, agility by Illinois agility test, explosive strength through standing broad jump, and The selected football skills were also assessed dribbling, dribbling consisted of five cones, shooting by accuracy of shooting,  juggling through juggling consisted of cones.  The ten week specific football training was conducted followed by post-test for all selected variables. The results of one way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated that the experimental group had shown significant improvement in all selected variables except speed, resting heart rate and recovery heart rate.Hence, the specific football training program appears to be an effective way of improving motor fitness components, physiological variables and soccer skills performance of sub junior school students. So soccer coaches and physical education teachers as well as others involved in coaching one or other game can make use of this information in the process of planning their training program.

Keywords; motor fitness components, physiological variables, football skills, soccer, sub junior school students

Despite evident differences between approaches to talent development, many share a set of common characteristics
and presumptions. We call this the Standard Model of Talent Development (SMTD). This model is
articulated and the relevant literature drawn out to highlight the model’s strengths and weaknesses. The SMTD
has been enormously influential, in terms of both policy documentation and practice, and it retains an obvious
common sense appeal. However, we will argue that not only is its attractiveness illusionary and inconsistent to
the emerging evidence base from research, but it is also undesirable from a variety of perspectives and desired
outcomes. In short, we suggest that the most common system for identifying talent is unsubstantiated from
both a process and an outcome perspective.

We identified the perceptual–cognitive skills and player history variables that differentiate players selected or not selected into an elite youth football (i.e. soccer) programme in Australia. A sample of elite youth male football players (n = 127) completed an adapted participation history questionnaire and video-based assessments of perceptual–cognitive skills. Following data collection, 22 of these players were offered a full-time scholarship for enrolment at an elite player residential programme. Participants selected for the scholarship programme recorded superior performance on the combined perceptual–cognitive skills tests compared to the non-selected group. There were no significant between group differences on the player history variables. Stepwise discriminant function analysis identified four predictor variables that resulted in the best categorization of selected and non-selected players (i.e. recent match-play performance, region, number of other sports participated, combined perceptual–cognitive performance). The effectiveness of the discriminant function is reflected by 93.7% of players being correctly classified, with the four variables accounting for 57.6% of the variance. Our discriminating model for selection may provide a greater understanding of the factors that influence elite youth talent selection and identification.

Hockey players from the National Hockey League (N.H.L.), the Western Hockey League (W.H.L.), and Ontario Hockey League (O.H.L.) were categorized according to their month of birth. The results revealed an extremely strong linear relationship between the month of birth (from January to December) and the proportion of players in the leagues studied. That is, the number of players on the rosters with January birthdates was the highest, followed by a steady decline throughout remainder of the year. These observations are interpreted as another example of the "relative age effects". The results are considered in light of the view that a number of potentially talented hockey players are not achieving the level of performance that would accurately reflect their ability.

Toma años reclutar, capacitar y desarrollar el personal necesario para la conformación de grupos de trabajos competitivos, es por ello que las organizaciones han comenzado a considerar al talento humano como su capital mas importante y la correcta administración de los mismos como una de sus tareas mas decisivas.

Background: Although there has been a great deal of research on talent development in sport and education, there has been a distinct lack of research on developing talent specifically in a curricular physical education context. Yet, all schools in England are expected to identify and support their talented pupils.

Purpose: In order to investigate the ways in which schools identify and support talented pupils in physical education, a national (English) survey was conducted. The survey aimed to establish a clear picture of current policy and practice in secondary school curricular physical education by obtaining specific information concerning talent identification, provision and support of very able pupils.

Participants and setting: A questionnaire was administered to a large sample of physical education subject leaders, which resulted in an unusually representative achieved sample (N = 535).

Data collection: Data were collected using a questionnaire, from which broad generalisations could be made about talent development practices. The questionnaire sought both quantitative and qualitative data related to school and department policies, identification and provision strategies, department staff expertise and professional development experiences.

Data analysis: Analyses of quantitative data were conducted using a data analysis software package (SPSS 12.0 for Windows) and qualitative analyses used a quasi-statistical approach. Employing a combination of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis tools ensured that patterns and trends could be identified and allowed the opportunity for individual schools to illustrate specific examples relating to their own experiences and circumstances.

Findings: The findings reveal that schools draw on an extremely varied range of strategies to identify and develop their talented pupils in physical education. Although the majority of schools appear to have developed a whole school and departmental policy for developing talent, there was a strong indication that a whole school policy was a significant driving force for designing a policy at department level. The majority of subject leaders claimed to identify talented pupils according to their current levels of achievement, whilst only a small percentage based identification upon students' potential to achieve. The most common criteria for assessment were reported to be performance in school sport and club sport. A key finding was that the majority of subject leaders indicated that the main area of expertise for staff was games activities, which may have significance if teachers feel better able to identify talented pupils in areas in which they themselves have expertise. Overall, the findings suggest that the effectiveness and equity of these strategies may be compromised by a lack of policy direction, an uneven distribution of staff expertise (in favour of games activities) and a lack of focused professional development.

Conclusion: The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings, suggesting that instances of good practice need to be highlighted and widely disseminated, and detailed guidance should be made available to all schools, if effective and equitable talent development practices are to be properly adopted within physical education departments.

The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of the educational staff and their assessment of their competence in the field of discovering and working with gifted and talented students in sports. Forty classroom teachers and 40 physical education teachers were included in the study. We used a questionnaire designed for the purposes of this study. The results show that teachers are aware of the role and importance of discovering and working with gifted and talented students, but that they need additional professional training to avoid possible mistakes and problems they might encounter in their work. The teachers believe that their school takes the serves the area of discovering gifted and talented students (̅ = 3.50 (0.91); p ˂ 0.001), somewhat less the area of educational work with them (̅ = 3.39 (0,77); p <0.001) and for the systemic and operational regulation of the education of gifted and talented students (̅ = 3.35 (0.94); p = 0.001). Physical education teachers identified more children who were gifted or talented in sports than class teachers (t(78) =-5,979, p< 0,000). The scientific contribution represents an important contribution in the field of work with talented and talented students, as for the first time in Slovenia the views of the pedagogical staff and their assessment of competence with such a group of students are presented. We conclude with a critical presentation of some gaps and an overview of the existing situation as well as with some guidelines for further pedagogical and scientific research.

Novice, intermediate and advanced baseball hitters followed a 7–week training programme, in which they received either behavioural training or decision training. Participants in the behavioural training group received simple-to-complex instruction, variable practice and an abundance of feedback throughout the acquisition period; the decision training group received complex instruction, variable practice and reduced delayed feedback. As predicted, the intermediate and advanced hitters who received decision training hit at a lower level (%) during acquisition but at a higher level during a transfer test in week 7. Novices in the behavioural training group were better than novices in the decision training group over both acquisition and transfer trials.

Purpose:
To determine the key environmental catalysts that supports an effective talent identification (TID) and talent development (TDE) system within university rugby union (rugby).

Methods:
A stratified sample was adopted using participants from one British university (n = 60). Group 1 was termed ‘Elite’, which comprised premier BUCS ‘A’ rugby performers (n = 32). Group 2 was termed ‘Non – Elite’, which comprised Western BUCS ‘A’ rugby performers (n = 28). Data was collected via web-based questionnaires using “Survey Monkey”.

Main Findings:
The research established that living within a small city throughout the sampling (p = 0.032), specialising (p = 0.032) and investment (p = 0.018) years is a key catalyst in the pursuit of rugby expertise. This research also found that participating in higher number of deliberate practice hours within stage one of the sampling years (p = 0.0066) is also influential to rugby development. In addition, the research has highlighted that participating in family recreational sport once a day throughout the specialising years (p = 0.030), as well as positive overall family support (p = 0.029), has a significant influence during development. Finally, having a talented sibling who has represented internationally (.030), more specifically a talented brother (.001), was also found to be a key catalyst to ensuring effective development in rugby. These findings allow for the successful identification of potential Elite BUCS athletes, through university coaches possessing a greater understanding of the key environmental catalysts for successful athletic development.

Key Words:
Talent Identification, Talent Development, Environmental, Rugby Union, University.

The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of the educational staff and their assessment of their competence in the field of discovering and working with gifted and talented students in sports. Forty classroom teachers and 40 physical education teachers were included in the study. We used a questionnaire designed for the purposes of this study. The results show that teachers are aware of the role and importance of discovering and working with gifted and talented students, but that they need additional professional training to avoid possible mistakes and problems they might encounter in their work. The teachers believe that their school takes the serves the area of discovering gifted and talented students (X = 3.50 (0.91); p ˂ 0.001), somewhat less the area of educational work with them (X = 3.39 (0,77); p &lt;0.001) and for the systemic and operational regulation of the education of gifted and talented students (X = 3.35 (0.94); p = 0.001). Physical education teachers iden...

Purpose: The current research aimed to design and explain the sports development processes in Iran.
Methodology: The qualitative and grounded theory-based methods have been used for the current study. The snowball data sampling method and the semi-structural interviews with 15 knowledgeable elites on the subject was used for data collection. The obtained data were analysed by the grounded theory coding with the structuralist approach introduced by Charmaz (2006). The coding was done in two phases as the primary and concentrated codes. Then, the theoretical coding was used to organize the concentrated codes. The trustworthiness of the obtained data and codes for ensuring them the researcher did authenticity.
Findings: The findings show that the processes required for sports development in Iran include attraction, maintenance (the process of maintaining community sport participation and the process of retaining talent), and education. These three processes and their components are interrelated and connected in a systematic approach. The proper designing of the processes and the relationship between their components with the strategy to use each process output as the input of the next one with particular emphasis on the interstitial processes and components is an essential point that must be considered.
Originality: Proper design of processes and the relationship between their components using each Process's output as input to the next Process with special emphasis on the Process and intermediate components is a critical point that must be considered. It is in this state that heroism is taken out of the greenhouse mode. Incidentally, with the spread and promotion of sports and physical activity among different sections of society, the possibility of the emergence of sports talents naturally increases, and their growth and excellence path becomes clear. Iran's sports development model is presented with a stakeholder approach, procedures and process.

This research was conducted to determine whether there are differences between the norm values used in the evaluation of children who train in different sports and physical education lessons according to the chronological age and biological age of the children. The research group consists of a total of 239 male students of 13 (n=116) and 14 (n=123) chronological years, who study in grades 7 and 8. In addition, the biological ages of the students who make up the research group are calculated and divided into 13 (N=140) and 14 (n=86) biological age groups. Within the scope of the research, heights, body weights, body mass indexes and body fat percentages of students were determined as anthropometric variables. Hand grip, leg strength, flexibility, horizontal and vertical jump, medicine ball throwing, ball throwing and sprint running skills were measured as motoric performance variables. The differences of variables according to chronological age and biological age were calculated by the Independent-Samples t-test. According to age groups, the arithmetic mean (x) is shown as 10%. While establishing the norm, the ratings accepted as Canadian criteria were used. In our study, significant differences were found between body weights in 13 and 14 age groups according to both chronological age and biological age. While there is a similarity in 13 age group in terms of heights, difference in favor of biological age was calculated in 14 age group. Even if there is no difference in the comparisons made for the biomotor abilities that are the subject of our study, percentage differences were found in comparing norm values in 10% slices according to chronological age and biological age. Thanks to norm values generated according to both chronological and biological age, the physical condition of the children, strengths and weaknesses related to the level of students in physical education classes, according to the separation of the application groups of children directed to the appropriate sport or the athletes and the students about training programs that will be applied to the course content it is envisaged that the results of this research will provide guidance. In this way, it is thought that by dividing the chronological age and biological age in children, a possible loss of motivation will be prevented in both physical education and training and competitions.

Sport is an activity meant to develop physical strength and the body. In order to make the body strong enough it must be adequately trained. It becomes more agile and the chances to survive are increasing. There are factors that the athlete must possess, such as, technical capabilities, strategy, physic, and well psychology. There are several ways to achieve the maximum achievement in sports. The one of the ways is by scouting talent. The main purpose of identifying prospective athletes is to identify and select prospective athletes; who have the best ability that appropriate of the sport chosen. In terms of talent there are other things that affect the achievement of one's athletes include body shape and interest in the sport. This experiment used qualitative and quantitative description, sample of the experiment are all the students of all Surakarta Muhammadiyah junior high school, and the total of the samples are 240 respondents. Variable on this experiment consists of 2 independents variable, they are gender and body shape. 2 dependents variable are interested and talented. Data were analyzed using regression correlation analysis with the testing requirements of normality and linearity test. Hypothesis testing using regression analysis and correlation of each predictor and multiple regression analysis and correlation double. The result of the experiment shows that male students who have endomorph body type, there are total 12 numbers of students who have shot put talent. There are 10 (25%) students mesomorph body type in table tennis. The most number is ectomorph body type, there are 9 (22,5%) students in sprinter. The result of the experiment shows that female students who have endomorph body type, there are total 10 numbers of students who have shot put talent. There are 10 (25%) students mesomorph body type in table tennis. The most number is ectomorph body type, there are 11 (27,5%) students in sprinter. The resume of this experiment is there are not correlation between gender and sport talented, there are not correlation between body type and sport talented, and there are correlation between body type and sport talented.

This short story is a fictional tale of talent development in sport. It is about two young friends and their journey along the player pathway in English football. Despite being on the same pathway, their paths are very different. As such, the story aims to highlight some of the many factors which can impact upon the development of talent in sport.

One of the key elements of high-level youth development strategy is that we select the talented youngsters with adequate, scientifically based methods. In Hungary this is supported by the Heracles programs (Heracles Champion and Heracles Star Program), which have the explicit goal of educating a selection of athletes who have the opportunity to pursue a professional career. We wanted to investigate the effectiveness of the programs by placing men's basketball in the focus of our research. We analyzed players who entered the Heracles programs but had already reached the peak of their careers. The sample thus consisted of 143 people, these players could already present themselves in the senior national team with a realistic chance. We used descriptive statistical methods, relying on the website of the domestic and international basketball association, the website of the Heracles programs, and the eurobasket.com paid page. We found that 80% of the surveyed players had the opportunity to introduce themselves in the Hungarian first or second division, however, for a longer period of time, the athletes stayed primarily in the second division. Those who have started a career abroad, played mainly in second-class or less-registered championships. Most of the players who are currently selected by the senior Hungarian national team are playing for a domestic Hungarian first class team. 2/3 (N=63) of the Heracles players with national youth selection debuted in the first class and 1/5 (N=20) in the second division, so the youth selection and Heracles membership together can be a serious selection factor. According to our research debuting in the senior national team without Heracles and national youth selection causes big difficulties, not a single "Heracles age" player played more than one senior national tournament without these two criteria. We also observed some anomalies in selection efficiency (relative age effect, territorial distribution), however, forward-looking federal intent and new regulations predict an increase in playing minutes for young players and a more lasting use in first division.

Over the centuries the term " talent " has changed semantically and slowly transformed itself into a floating signifier or become an accidental designator. The term " talent " no longer has one single meaning and a " referent " in real life, but instead a multiplicity of meaning and references to something beyond real life, something indefinite and indefinable. In other words, today we do not know specifically what the term " talent " in talent management really means or refers to. Indeed, this is problematical, because in late modernity the term " talent " has become a popular and frequently used key term among business consultants and, within the science of human resource management, a cornerstone in the discipline of " talent management " , and not knowing what the term really means will turn any talent discussion, talent identification and talent recruitment into a question of subjectivity and belief in talent rather than objectivity and knowledge of talent.

Talent identification is a process through which those with the highest chance to succeed in the future will be determined. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the application of a multivariate approach in talent identification of adolescent soccer players. The research population consisted of all soccer players in Tehran province aged between 12 and 16 years old. A battery of tests was applied to measure the psychological, technical, physiological and anthropometric factors in adolescent soccer players in two levels of elite (N=26) and sub-elite (N=35). Participants were divided into four age groups: U16, U15, U14, and U13. The OMSAT – 3 was used to evaluate the mental skills. Furthermore, technical skills were measured by six soccer skills tests of Football Association of England. Physiological measurements consisted of vertical jump, sit up, 10m sprint, 40m sprint and 280m shuttle run. Anthropometric characteristics were height, weight, body mass index, length of lower and upper leg, skin folds in four regions and body fat percentage. Statistical method to analyze the findings was MANOVA. The results showed that among four groups of factors, the physiological measures were statistically more capable of distinguishing the levels. The results of the present study showed a significant difference between elite and sub-elite soccer players in physiological, technical and psychological characteristics, but there was no significant difference in anthropometric attributes. There was a significant difference between elite and sub-elite soccer players in sit up, shuttle run, 10m sprint, 40m sprint, running with ball, turning, speed, dribbling, shooting, goal setting, relaxation, coping with stress, activation, focus, refocus and competition plan (P<0.05). These findings demonstrated that there is more need to emphasize the importance of mental skills in talent identification models. In conclusion, a multivariate approach with regard to the age differences can successfully discriminate elite players from their sub-elite counterparts in adolescence period. It can be suggested that in talent identification process in ages under 13 and 14, physiological measurements are less used and technical characteristics are more emphasized.

Demystifying Talent Management questions the explanation of talent, that anyone who has 'more' has a talent, and demonstrates how the term 'talent' has become an empty signifier. The book asks if talent exists at all, and reflects on what the consequences for talent management within business and sports would be if this were the case.

One of the key elements of high-level youth development strategy is that we select the talented youngsters with adequate, scientifically based methods. In Hungary this is supported by the Heracles programs (Heracles Champion and Heracles Star Program), which have the explicit goal of educating a selection of athletes who have the opportunity to pursue a professional career. We wanted to investigate the effectiveness of the programs by placing men&#39;s basketball in the focus of our research. We analyzed players who entered the Heracles programs but had already reached the peak of their careers. The sample thus consisted of 143 people, these players could already present themselves in the senior national team with a realistic chance. We used descriptive statistical methods, relying on the website of the domestic and international basketball association, the website of the Heracles programs, and the eurobasket.com paid page. We found that 80% of the surveyed players had the opportuni...

Environmental factors have been considered as critical to successful talent development in sports. The entire backgrounds of development including the home, school, community and the organizational culture in sport should provide consistent and coherent support for the developing champions if the goal of effective talent development is to be realised. This study explored the nature of talent development environment in Nigerian in order to uncover the barriers, opportunities and facilitators of effective talent development in the country. Eight successful national athletes were interviewed. Inductive analysis revealed the barriers (e.g. family barriers, finance, facilities, lack of regular competitions, issues with injury/rehabilitation), opportunities (e.g. luck, school sport, early senior participation) and facilitators of development (e.g. hard work, peer influence, coach-athlete relationship). It was suggested that the barriers be mitigated by encouraging the relevant parties (e....

... of Roger Federer on the green lawns of Wimbledon, the cool and calculating style of Lewis Hamilton on the treacherous circuit of Monaco, the accuracy and composure of Tiger Woods amongst the azaleas of Augusta, or the captivating ball skills of Cristiano Ronaldo in the ...