Development Of Routes From Talent Identificaiton Through To Elite Performance Flashcards
What lead to Germany becoming east and west Germany
In November 1989 the Berlin Wall was destroyed and after WW2 Germany was slyly in half and it was taken over by Russia. Due to splitting in half it was known as 2 separate counties (east Germany) which was a communist regime and (west Germany) which was a capitalist regime
Talent identification
Talent identification is the process of recognising individuals with the potential to become elite athletes in a specific sport.It involves assessing physical, technical, tactical, and psychological characteristics to spot those who show natural ability or developable attributes suited to high performance.
• TI is the process of spotting individuals with the potential to excel in sport. • Often done through fitness testing, scouting, and performance profiling. • Key organisations: UK Sport, English Institute of Sport (EIS), National Governing Bodies (NGBs).
Key features:
• Usually done at a young age.
• Involves testing and observation (e.g. speed, endurance, skill tests).
• Often linked to NGBs, schools, and national programmes.
• Can lead to entry into talent development pathways (academies, regional squads).
Example in practice:
Programmes like UK Sport’s Talent ID schemes (e.g. Girls4Gold) use talent ID to find potential Olympians who may not have previously competed in that sport.
Shop window effect
This brings more success and tourist attraction
National pride
People are seen as more productive and less drained
What did money do do sport
Due to it being centered around money there was more of a focus on funding. So an increase in funding in elite sport resulted in more money and time to develop talent identification programmes.
East Germany
Post WW2 there was a need for international recognition
There was a clash of ideological and it attempted to prove the political system commmuism (east) was better than the capitalism (west)
East Germany and the eastern bloc developed the idea of centralized elite sports programme with the use of institutes
East Germany information
-series of tests and screening of seven—year-olds
-Results analyzed by national sports Federation
-Those that scored well were invited to attend local training centers several times a week
-If progress was good at 10 years old, they were transferred to a sport boarding school where they had no choice
-Students would do two hours of academic study and six hours of sport coaching and training a day
-full-time coaches worked with young athletes
-Annual spartakia games, mini Olympics to test
-Process monitored
-Use of elite sport institutes
-State funded and controlled
State plan
Codename for secret program to develop new and more efficient doping techniques and brought together coaches and scientists from a range of fields
Heidi kreigner
Athletes were told they were taking vitamins due to a lack of nutrition, but they were actually force-fed steroids. An example of this is Heidi where she received so much testosterone that she had a sex change.
The EIS
-The English Institute of Sport (EIS) provides exceptional support services to improve sporting performance.
-A network of over 400 world-leading experts and practitioners in science, medicine, technology and engineering enables athletes to realise their potential and excel.
-Established in 2002 and grant funded by UK Sport, the EIS works in partnership with Olympic and Paralympic sports to put people at the heart of extraordinary performance.
-At the Rio 2016 Olympic & Paralympic Games, the EIS worked with 93% of the athletes and 31 of the 34 sports that won a medal for Team GB and Paralympics GB.
-EIS practitioners work with coaches and Performance Directors to help improve the performance of athletes by delivering services that enable them to optimise training programmes, maximise performance in competition and improve health and availability to train.
-A dedicated team of scientists also works with coaches and Performance Directors to feed the pipeline of talent into sports, and the science and sport medicine services delivered by the EIS are underpinned by world-leading technology and engineering.
Basic talent ID strucutre in the uk
-The structure of UK talent ID programmes are centred around NGBs and UKSport.
-The English institute of Sport (EIS) works to develop talented athletes.
-Main funding is via the National Lottery and DCMS – thus allowing athletes and coaches to become full time.
-NGBs have LTAD programmes
-Independent schools offer scholarship opportunities
Talent, identification, Australia-historical context
-Australia’s disappointing performance at the 1976 Olympics led to the Australian government reviewing its elite sports system
-Change was needed as current system not working, needed to re-evaluate. Wanted international recognition. There was public disappointment and Government displeasure
-Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) opened in 1981, works in a similar way to the East Germany high performance centres
AIS
-Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) opened in 1981, works in a similar way to the East Germany high performance centres
-The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) was created as a central focus for identifying and developing elite/ world
class facilities and support services
-The AIS has 35 sport programs in 26 sports AIS provides scholarships for future world-beaters
How Austrialia and East Germany are similar
-Institutes exist(ed) for identifying and developing elite/world class facilities and support services
-They provide top level coaching; access to equipment, sport sciences and medicine facilities; accommodation, meals and travel; and assistance with education and career planning.
Talent ID uk revision NGB’S routes
-Focus on critical development stages in a young athlete’s life
-Phases of development 6 or 7
-Early – Fundamentals
-Late – Training to win
-Training needs to maximise potential. Facilities, structure, recourses, care
-Controllable athlete pathway Funding appropriate to route
-Targeted sports science at appropriate
phase
Talent ID uk revision- school
-Mass participation/taking part over winning
-Lack of funding, fewer specialists
-Inclusive – 1st 2nd teams vs elite
-Reliant on teachers – no hire and fire approach. Teachers take teams.
-Extracurricular sport –varied seriousness
-National curriculum –broad focus
Talent ID UK revision- state schools and priv
State Schools
-Mass participation/taking part over winning
-Lack of funding, fewer specialists
-Inclusive – 1st 2nd teams vs elite
-Reliant on teachers – no hire and fire approach. Teachers take teams.
-Extracurricular sport – varied seriousness
-National curriculum – broad focus
Public schools
-Some top teams complete at higher level
-Outstanding facilities – Millfield,Dulwich College
-Scholarships, Alumni donations,Bursaries
-Specialist coaches, more funding,ex-professionals, elite experience
Talent ID Australia vs uk
Australia
-Australian Sports Commission -Government funded
-FTEM model - Foundation, Talent,Elite, Mastery
-AIS - Canberra hub - decentralised centres (states)
-700 scholarships (approx.)
-Sports Search first part of process
Uk
-Lottery funded, some government funding (DCMS)
-UK World Class Programme - WC talent, WC Development, WC Podium
-UKSI - Sheffield hub - regional institutes - Manchester, Bath
-1300 athletes on elite programmes (approx.)
-Sports Search attempted
Developmenp pathways
- Grassroots/novice level (local clubs, schools, community programmes).
- Regional development programmes (county/national academies, talent camps).
- Elite development (Olympic Pathway Programmes, World Class Performance Programme).
- Elite performance (international level, professional sport, Olympic athletes).
Key programs in the uk
• TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme)
• World Class Performance Pathway
• Podium Potential → Podium
• Talent transfer initiatives (e.g. “Girls4Gold”)
Historical influences on uk revision
East Germany:
• Known for its state-controlled, systematic approach to sport during the Cold War.
• Focused on:
• Early talent ID and rigorous testing.
• Centralised training centres with scientific support.
• Heavy use of sports science, medicine, and technology (some unethical methods like doping were used).
• Influence on the UK:
• Led to more structured, data-led approaches.
• Emphasis on long-term athlete development (LTAD).
• Integrated support teams (nutrition, psych, physio).
Australia:
• Success at the 2000 Sydney Olympics sparked global attention.
• Developed the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) in response to poor Olympic results in the 1970s.
• Known for:
• High-performance centres with elite coaching.
• Use of technology and sports science.
• Nationally coordinated development pathways.
• Influence on the UK:
• Inspired the creation of the EIS and UK Sport’s World Class Performance Pathway.
• UK adopted Australia’s centralised, holistic model of athlete support.
Summary:
• The UK’s current model is multi-layered, scientifically informed, and performance-driven.
• Strongly shaped by East Germany’s structure and Australia’s innovation and investment.
• Aimed at progressing talent from grassroots to world-class, with a support system tailored to each stage.
