Talent Identification

• Talent Identification definition

  The process of recognising current athletes who have the potential to excel in their sport
• Talent transfer definition

  A process occurring when an athlete reduces their involvement in a sport which they have invested significant time and concentrates their efforts in a sport that is new to them but involves similar skills
• Talent Confirmation, definition

  Although potential may exist, real talent can only be confirmed by engaging with the individual in a specific sports training environment
• World Class performance Pathway

  funded by the national lottery

  
• World class talent

  Highly gifted performers selected by NGB's. For performers who are maximum of 8 years from a likely medal
• World Class Development

  For performers who are about 6 years from a medal
• World Class podium

  Supports likely medal contenders. Funding is based on performance success at previous Olympics
• Phases of Talent Identification

  Phase 1

  Selection process begins with a range of generic physical and skill based tests at various testing centres around the UK, e.g. sprints, jumps, aerobic fitness

  Phase 2+3

  Further assess an athlete's suitability for a sport. Sessions may include: medical screening, psychology and behaviour assessments

  Confirmation Phase

  -Selected athletes perform a 6-12 month phase in the sport's training environment

  -Rates of progression are tracked to assess their suitability for the sport

  -Unsuccessful athletes continue through club system
• Talent Identification

  • Requires a holistic approach
  • Genetic profiling
  • Psychological profile
  • Family profile
  • Environment profile
  • Coaches profile
  • Physiological profile
• Talent ID campaigns

  • Girls4gold
  • tall and talented
  • fighting chance
  • pitch 2 podium
  • sporting giants
  • project swap shop
• Girls4Gold

  • single most extensive female talent recruitment in great Britain
  • Looks for women who have the drive and ambition to fulfil their sporting potential
• Tall and Talented

  • Rowing and basketball
  • Aims to find a sport for tall people who don't know what sport they would be good at
• Fighting Chance

  UK sports + the English institute of sport in partnership with GB taekwondo has fast-tracked many athletes from a variety of martial arts background into high performance sport
• Pitch 2 Podium

  • Give young footballers 18-22 years a unique opportunity to succeed in an alternative Olympic sport
  • Invited over 1,000 young academy players
  • E.G Darran Campbell -> gold medalist
• Sporting Giants

  • 4,000 people applied to be a 'sporting giant' and 58 were selected
  • E.G Bobby White from handball to captain of Men's GB team
• Project Swap Shop

  • Aims to recruit athlete's near/is retired
  • To switch sports if skills are transferable
  • E.G Shelly Rudman from 400m to Silver medal at Bob Skeleton
• Talent Transfer Programmes

  • Occurs through athletes seeking more opportunities or a coach 'releasing' an athlete with sufficient time to try alternative sport.
  • Alternative sport will have similar movement skills, physiological requirements, and/or tactical components
  • Switch is prompted by an injury, plateau, retirement or decrease motivation
  • Can occur through talent ID campaigns e.g. project swap shop