Faculty of Science TALENT IDENTIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA: SUGGESTIONS FOR DEVELOPING POTENTIAL ATHLETES L.O. Amusa and A.L. Toriola University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa University of Venda

Faculty of Science Introduction South Africa attained independence following multiracial elections in Sport administration in the country has witnessed series of transformation. After independence, the National Sports Commission (NSC) was established to coordinate sports and recreation in the country. The NSC was the operational arm of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.

Faculty of Science Introduction - contd. The NSC subsequently established the national Sports Science and Information Agency (SISA) that provided scientific support to elite athletes under its high performance programme. The Ministry of Sport and Recreation published the white paper on sport and recreation in 1997 that guided sport and recreation development in the country. The rural development and reconstruction programme (RDP) launched by the ANC in 1998 was aimed at using sport and recreation as a catalyst for development in the country. In 2002, the NSC introduced the concept of provincial academies of sport.

Faculty of Science Introduction – contd. Despite these structures, sport and sports development in the country face a number of problems: National squads were not representative of the demographics of the country. Performances of national teams at international competitions were inconsistent and unreliable. Sports development programmes were not properly designed and implemented. In soccer for example, the country has had 13 coaches in its 12 years of independence. Physical Education is more a feature of the curriculum of public schools.

Faculty of Science Recent developments In 2004 the NSC was dissolved and replaced with a new body: South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). While SASCOC is now responsible for coordinating elite sport, the Department of Sports and Recreation administers recreation and leisure programmes at the national level. The provincial sport academies still exist alongside private academies, but no strategic approach is implemented to coordinate sports development initiatives among the various stakeholders.

Faculty of Science Management Structure of Sport and Recreation in South Africa

Faculty of Science Debate Is ‘talent identification’ the same as ‘athlete selection’? What are sport organizations in South Africa doing regarding talent identification/athlete selection? Are there specific models of talent identification that South Africa has adopted?

Faculty of Science Recognition of Stages of development of an elite athlete Catch them young: Not catch them old Initiation phase: (1-6 years), i.e. development of fundamental movement patterns. Developmental phase: (6-12 years), i.e. development of sports skills. Perfection phase: (12-18 years), i.e. Correction of missing gaps in sports skills development. Discrimination phase: (19+ years), i.e. professional or elite sports participation.

Faculty of Science What happens to the athlete during these phases? Body/growth crisis Psychosocial adjustment (psychological problems, social problems) Discrimination Peer crises Guidance should be provided by parents, teachers, peers, coach and society at large)

Faculty of Science Coping Mechanism During The Development Childhood: Readiness, motivation, interest, knowledge (cognition) Adolescence: Identity formation, sport/athlete identity, identity foreclosure (sees himself only in sport), student athlete (dual identity). Young Adulthood: Role formation, partnership formation, societal role/expectations. Childhood: Readiness, motivation, interest, knowledge (cognition) Adolescence: Identity formation, sport/athlete identity, identity foreclosure (sees himself only in sport), student athlete (dual identity). Young Adulthood: Role formation, partnership formation, societal role/expectations.

Faculty of Science Goal of Competitive sport – Development of Elite Athlete What makes a champion athlete? Multidimensional factors are involved: Physical, physiological, social and training factors.

Faculty of Science Developing an elite athlete Nutrition PhysiologicalPhysicalPsychological Nurture Champion Athlete Cognition Genetic EndowmentTrainingSocio-economic

Faculty of Science Talent characteristics Psychology: Attitude, interest and motivation Motor skills Physiology Morphology Championship potential

Faculty of Science Talent Identification A complex process Talent – Dynamic/ Non-static Sport specific Talent Identification Athlete specific

Faculty of Science Talent Identification Processes Identification Selection Development Detection IdentifyDevelopNurture

Faculty of Science Need for a paradigm shift Talent selection Talent identification From: Athlete coming from within the sport (Has been engaging in the sport) Athlete coming from outside the sport (Possesses all required potentials)

Faculty of Science Talent search basics – contd. Broad OlderYouth Physical variables Experience Focused Novice Physiological forms From: Individual sports Team sports Centralized Decentralized GeneralSpecific LongitudinalShort term

Faculty of Science Talent search basics Phase 1: At school (Catch them young – FS+SS+Perfection) Phase 2: Sent to a developer (Academies, training institutes, schools of excellence, etc.) Phase 3: Invited for trials

Faculty of Science Talent ID Program Issues Growth and development continuum- Individual must be in the right environment with the right management Labour intensive Capital intensive Athlete acceptance uncertainty Requires enthusiasm of teachers, coaches, developers and other role players Information privacy concern – For the athlete, his training and development (cf. Jabu Pule) Response to immediate changes/development Response to immediate athlete needs – Money, education, health and safety, technical development

Faculty of Science Support structures for talent development Health, safety and sports medicine Sports science Technical development aids Research and information management Counseling

Faculty of Science Summary/ Conclusion South Africa has abundance of sports talents, but there are problems with its talent identification system and practice. Problems include: Priorities HIV/AIDS Nutrition Sport science Absence of PE in schools Facilities Necessary sports structures – At national, provincial, district and regional levels Fragmented approaches to sport development- Holistic/strategic approach is preferable.

Faculty of Science Thank you!