Talent Identification

Talent Identification in the UK There are various schemes and agencies which deal with talent Identification in the UK NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR SPORT – a partnership between UK Sport, UK Sport Institutes and National Governing Bodies. It was developed to facilitate identification of talent as well as fast track development programmes in targeted sports for the 2012 Olympics.

Talent Identification in the UK ENGLISH INSTITUTE OF SPORT (EIS) – identified that six to eight years were needed to reach medal winning potential. It has employed talent identification specialists and put a specific focus on basketball, handball and volleyball. PROJECT SWAP SHOP – a talent transfer programme where elite athletes are given an opportunity to try a different Olympic sport.

Talent Identification in the UK SPORTING GIANTS, TALL SPORTS PUBLIC APPEAL – used to find talent for rowing, handball, and volleyball. Women over 180cm and men over 190cm are invited to attend initial talent schemes and then if chosen are fast tracked on to a programme for Olympic development.

Talent Identification in the UK WORLD CLASS PROGRAMME – Potential elite athletes become part of the Lottery funded World Class Pathway:  World Class Talent – identifies athletes with potential.  World Class Development – assists talented athletes who have competitive capabilities.  World Class Podium - supports athletes with medal winning potential financially and with top class facilities.

Talent Identification in East Germany East Germany was one of the first nations to develop talent identification. It was a small country with a population on 16 million but for forty years was the forefront of international sport. They decided to use sport and Olympic success to gain international recognition. Talent Identification became an integral part of school sport at primary level. This formed the first port of a state sponsored elite sports programme where very child was screened for potential by age 7.

Talent Identification in East Germany From this the results were analysed by the National Sports Federation and those scoring well attended a local training centre. If they made progress at 10 years old they were transferred to a boarding school so that more time could be devoted to training. These schools were linked to elite clubs and followed a punishing regime. Essentially six hours of sport to two hours of academic for six days a week.

Talent Identification in East Germany Elite performers were based at high performance centres or sports institutes. After boarding school they undertook full time preparation at one of the eight national centres with top class facilities, sport science and technical support.

Talent Identification in Australia Following Australia’s disappointing performance in the 1976 Olympics the government reviewed the elite sports system. The outcome was to put a central focus on identifying and nurturing the country’s sporting talent. The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) opened in It offers scholarships to over 600 athletes in 32 sports and employs 75 full time coaches. It offers first class facilities as well as sport science and medical back up.

Talent Identification in Australia There are now seven satellite institutes in each of the sate capitals. Australia also developed the Sports Search – Talent ID Programme. It developed a bank of fitness and basic body measurements that could be used to identify ‘best fit’ sports. Between 1994 – 1996 they took this to every Australian high school in a run up to the 2000 Olympics. Those identified were invited to specific screening at an institute for sport

Research Questions Find the talent pathway used in your sport. What other programmes does the UK use for talent identification? What legacy has the East German elite sport system had on the UK?