Talent detection in taekwondo: which factors are associated with the longitudinal competitive success?

Background Several morphological and functional characteristics are associated with the performance of taekwondo (TKD) adult athletes. However, we did not find any longitudinal study associating these features to the future performance of young athletes, and thereby, identifying the best variables to use in a battery of tests to talent detection. Therefore, the aim of this study is answer the question which factors are associated with the longitudinal competitive success of TKD young athletes over five competitive years (2008 to 2012).Material &Methods: Six taekwondo athletes (13.06 +/- 1.07 years, 43.6 +/- 6.6 kg, 157.9 +/- 8.3 cm), who trained three to six hours per week, for more than three years, were assessed on 32 maturational indicators, of body composition, anthropometric and functional, using anthropometric techniques, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, carpal radiography and contact platform. To determine the competitive ranking, the competitive results of athletes from 2008 to 2012 were analysed, and these values were correlated with the other 32 indicators for determining the Longitudinal Predictors of Performance in TKD (LPPT). Moreover, one of the athletes achieved results notably higher than the other, being medalled at Junior World Championships. Therefore, all variables were transformed into z-scores and all those in which this athlete presented superior performance in 1 z-scores were considered as LPPT. Results: The athlete of reference (the first in Longitudinal Competitive Ranking 2008-2012) distinguished, in accordance with the criteria, in nineteen LPPT indicators. The ranking was correlated with 6 LPPT parameters, including one from the maturation group of indicators and five from the functional group.Conclusion: Our results allowed us to identify several factors that are related to longitudinal competitive success in taekwondo young athletes. These factors should be considered by coaches to the proper selection of training programs, as well as for the pre-selection of young talents in competitive taekwondo. However, these results apply only to the Portuguese taekwondo adolescent athletes, being of limited generalizability.

Nutritional intake and body composition of adolescent soccer player of two different levels of performance: a comparative study

Soccer participation worldwide is increasing and every club try to discover new talents. It is well know that there is an important correlation between body composition (BC) and talent detection (TD) and when coaches and selectors choose players, they tend to choose them with optimum BC.

ISSP Position Stand: To Test or Not to Test? The Use of Physical Skill Tests in Early Phases of Sport Development

A Searching for talent and the assessing ability in young prospects from individual and team sports often include measurement, analysis, and evaluation of physical and motor skills. The use of these tests in early stages of talent development has been widely observed in both female and male prospects. The purpose of this paper is to review a series of studies conducted on talented and less-talented athletes/ players that were aimed at distinguishing between the two groups and at predicting the athletes’/players’ future achievements/success. Thirteen studies examining the use of physical and motor skill tests in young prospects are reviewed. Based on this review, four main observations are highlighted and a number of benefits and limitations associated with the use of such tests are discussed. It is recommended that (1) coaches reduce the number of batteries of physical and motor skill tests used in early phases of talent development and (2) coaches and sport scientists specializing in measurement and evaluation cooperate in order to improve the effectiveness of the application and interpretation of physical skill tests given to prospects at early stages of talent development.

Sobre o Desenvolvimento do Talento no Desporto: Um Contributo dos Modelos Teóricos do Desenvolvimento Desportivo

ABSTRACT: With this article, we aim to offer a conceptual synthesis of some of the most important developments in past decades on the subject of talent in sport, while also helping sports stakeholders, particularly managers and coaches, to recognize and apply these conclusions in their practices. The article starts with a brief historical review, which explores how there has been a shift from a talent detection perspective to a talent development perspective and to a holistic vision of athletes and their background context. Secondly, the article presents an overview of the main theoretical models put forward in literature on sport psychology, including career-transition-based models and talent-and-expertise-based models. Finally, as the conceptual model most widely referred to in literature, a detailed analysis of the Development Model of Sports Participation (Côté, Baker & Abernethy, 2007), is made, especially with regard to development processes relating to standards of practice (e.g. diversification and specialization) and psychosocial influences, aspects that form the basis of all-round athlete development.

Sobre o Desenvolvimento do Talento no Desporto: Um Contributo dos Modelos Teóricos do Desenvolvimento Desportivo

ABSTRACT: With this article, we aim to offer a conceptual synthesis of some of the most important developments in past decades on the subject of talent in sport, while also helping sports stakeholders, particularly managers and coaches, to recognize and apply these conclusions in their practices. The article starts with a brief historical review, which explores how there has been a shift from a talent detection perspective to a talent development perspective and to a holistic vision of athletes and their background context. Secondly, the article presents an overview of the main theoretical models put forward in literature on sport psychology, including career-transition-based models and talent-and-expertise-based models. Finally, as the conceptual model most widely referred to in literature, a detailed analysis of the Development Model of Sports Participation (Côté, Baker & Abernethy, 2007), is made, especially with regard to development processes relating to standards of practice (e.g. diversification and specialization) and psychosocial influences, aspects that form the basis of all-round athlete development.

Talent in autism: hyper-systemising, hyper-attention to detail and sensory hypersensitivity

We argue that hyper-systemizing predisposes individuals to show talent, and review evidence that hyper-systemizing is part of the cognitive style of people with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). We then clarify the hyper-systemizing theory, contrasting it to the weak central coherence (WCC) and executive dysfunction (ED) theories. The ED theory has difficulty explaining the existence of talent in ASC. While both hyper-systemizing and WCC theories postulate excellent attention to detail, by itself excellent attention to detail will not produce talent. By contrast, the hyper-systemizing theory argues that the excellent attention to detail is directed towards detecting 'if p, then q' rules (or [input-operation-output] reasoning). Such law-based pattern recognition systems can produce talent in systemizable domains. Finally, we argue that the excellent attention to detail in ASC is itself a consequence of sensory hypersensitivity. We review an experiment from our laboratory demonstrating sensory hypersensitivity detection thresholds in vision. We conclude that the origins of the association between autism and talent begin at the sensory level, include excellent attention to detail and end with hyper-systemizing.