MODELS OF TALENT IDENTIFICATION IN SWIMMING

Goran Dimitri , and Borislav Obradovi Faculty of Sport and Phisical Education, Novi Sad, Serbia

Abstract
There are many conditions necessary for success in modern sport. One of these is an inherent talent or aptitude. Early identification of talent is one of the most important concerns in contemporary sport (Bompa, 1985; Bompa, 1990; Harre, 1982). The basic premise underlying talent is that the development of the youthful athlete can be best served if the athlete trains in a sport of discipline for which he/she is best suited (Harre, 1982). Talent identification is long term process. This process consist of few stages. This work will present some models of talent identification in swimming. Keywords: talent, talent identification, talent development, talent selection, swimming,

Introduction
Most parents would like to see their child/children experience success in sport. Some may even want to see their child excel at more elite levels, and perhaps attain national and international recognition. The progression from initial youth sport experiences to more elite levels is complex. It involves some degree of identification and selection of talented individuals at virtually all levels of youth sports. However, the process may also involve more formal identification and selection of individuals who presumably have the skill, physical, and behavioral requisites for success in a given sport.

Applied Method
For explaining the term talent, talent identificatoin and selectios as well as to present some of talent identificatoin and selection models in swimming, descriptive method is most usefull. TALENT - BEYOND EXPECTATIONS Gagnes (2002) differentiates natural abilities (gifts or aptitudes) and systematically developed skills (talents). It defines giftedness and talent as follows: Giftedness can be defined as the potential to perform at a level significantly beyond what might be expected from one's age-peers in any area of human ability. It is important to note that a student may be gifted in any one of the cognitive, creative, socio-affective or sensori-motor domains, or in several, or in all, or in an area not categorised by domains. Talent, however, is an achievement at a level significantly beyond what might be expected from age-peers in fields such as arts, technology, academic pursuits, athletics, sports and social action. Therefore, a student can be gifted without being talented. The key to this definition is that it distinguishes between outstanding potential (giftedness) and outstanding performance (talent). The model also highlights the diversity of learners (culture, economics, gender, etc) and the factors that influence them such as: motivation to achieve, personal interests, presence or absence of an adult support system.

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In differentiating between potential and performance, this view of giftedness acknowledges the occurrence of students who may be gifted underachievers. Talent has a complex (multidimensional) nature and the identification of talent is difficult, time consuming, and ongoing. Talent has several properties that are genetically transmitted and, therefore, innate. Nevertheless, talent is not always evident at an early age but trained people may be able to identify its existence by using certain markers. These early indications of talent may provide a basis for predicting those individuals who have a reasonable chance of succeeding at a later stage. Very few individuals are talented in any single domain; indeed, if all children were equally gifted, there would be no means of discriminating or explaining differential success. Furthermore, talent is specific to that particular domain. The complex nature of talent is highlighted by these principles. It is not surprising, that there is no consensus of opinion, nationally or internationally, regarding the theory and practice of talent identification. Usually professional clubs depend on the subjective assessment of their experienced scouts and coaches, employing a list of key criteria. These are set out as acronyms; for example, the key phrase incorporated in the scouting process of Ajax Amsterdam is TIPS, standing for technique, intelligence, personality and speed. Alternative lists include TABS (technique, attitude, balance, speed) and SUPS (speed, understanding, personality, skill). TALENT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION Talent identification is process where athlete coming from outside the sport (Possesses all required potentials) and on other side talent selection is process where athlete coming from within the sport (Has been engaging in the sport). These are term often used while talkig about talent identification. (Amusa and Toriola, 2006.) It could be argued that competition itself might very well be the best form of talent identification, with competition seeing the best or most talented athletes rise to the top in their chosen sport (Peltola 1992). However the many athletes that do not succeed in the particular sport they have chosen, along with many that do achieve a degree of success, may be better suited to a different sport and never realise it (Peltola 1992). With this in mind and considering that without talent development talent identification would be a waste of time and resources (Jarver, 1982), it is easy to see why talent identification is a term that is often confused with the term talent development (Peltola 1992, Hoare 1995). Peltola along with Thomson and Beavis define talent identification as "that process by which children are encouraged to participate in the sports at which they are most likely to succeed, based on results of testing selected parameters. These parameters are designed to predict performance capacity, taking into account the child's current level of fitness and maturity. " (Loko, 1994.) Talent identification and selection is a long-term procedure that requires careful planning in order to achieve the expected result. Talent identification and selection is period over several years of an athletes career. At present there appears to be no particular selection method that would allow instantaneously and precisely to identify talent for a particular event multi-year selection procedure, that takes into consideration the dynamics of sporting results according to the biological characteristics, the development of physical and psychological capacities and the adaptation to increased training loads, provides a far more efficient method. (Hoare, 2001.) Talent identification and selection is a complex area of the sports sciences as it requires multi-disciplinary models to be developed. This may include consideration of kinanthropometry, physiology, psycho-social influences, biomechanics, perceptual-motor and decision making processes and sociology. This should be interfaced with an awareness of growth and maturational issues across the developmental cycle. There is no one correct model for talent identification and selection. It is dependant on the complexity of the sport (from a predictive perspective) and the infrastructure of the sport at a local, provincial and national level.

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WHY TALENT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION There are a lot of benefits of talent identification. Most important are: Physical benefits Social benefits Psychological benefits Benefits for parents

Physical benefits Humans, were designd and built for movement. Talent identification with number of different sports that it promotes, is appropriate for maintaining desirable fitness levels. There are variuos physical benefits to be gained from participation in sport: fitness level, general health and quality of life and a wide range of motor skills.

Social benefits there area series off less visible but justa as important social benefits. These are: respect of others, increased opportunities for socialising, discipline and using leisure time positively.

Psychological benefits these benefits depending onthe goals of the individual. The most common, indirect benefits are the following: decreased daily and chronic stress improved self-confidence and body image enhanced mood increased mental alertness

TALENT IDENTIFICATION IN SWIMMING Many great coaches are discovered once they have uncovered a talented swimmer. Whilst the goal of every coach is to improve the performance capability of his/her swimmers, the innate ability of each swimmer to adapt and respond to the training program will greatly influence the end results. Therefore, every coach should seek out those athletes with the greatest potential to succeed. In swimming, early detection of potential talent is verz important. Detection goes through identifying those with certain physical characteristics. (Richards, R., 1999) outlines that morphology (mostly ectomorphic) will influence factors such as lift and drag. The same author advocates that TID should commence between 10 and 12 years of age in order to teach the technical aspect of swimming. Genetically gifted potential of individuals is not enough to guarantee success. It is important to mention, that talented swimmer will possess a feel for the water, which is the result of a heightened sense of balance and body awareness (Richards, R., 1999).

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Australian model Studies of elite swimmers have been used to identify what general physical characteristics are common to successful (vs their less successful peers) swimming athletes. The general premise is that a swimmers morphology influences the horizontal components of lift and drag and thereby affects the potential to generate optimal propulsion and to minimise resistance forces. The typical profile of elite swimmers features these general characteristics: tall (i.e. greater than average height), wide shoulder girdle and narrow hip width (note: wide and narrow are relative terms, the respective ratio will determine if the relationship is favourable), long arms (note: the arm-span taken from the extremities of the outstretched arms should be equal to, or greater than, ones standing height), favourable ratio of long-bone development in the legs (note: this means that the leg-length is greater than trunk length), large hands and feet.

1991. Bill Nelson, David Pyne, Bill Sweetenham in Australia developed National talentidentification and development program for swimming. This program consist of four tier system. The four tiers of the proposed system are: test are: Anthropometric Tests General Fitness Tests (land based) Swimming Tests (pool based) Specialist Tests and Evaluation school (ages 10-14 years) club (ages 10-15 years) state (ages 12-16 years) national (ages 13-17 years)

There are also test for each tier with test protocols and suggested standards. Some of mentioned

The swimmers must achieve some standards to become a part of adequate tier. South Africa model South African model for talent identification in swimming is developed in 2001. by Dr Deborah Hoare. South Africa has a large reservoir of sporting talent. This includes athletes already participating in sport along with latent (undiscovered) talent. There is a need for these talented athletes to be identified and selected more effectively so as to assist National Federations (NFs) in their development projects. With careful planning and optimal utilisation of limited resources, a program can be set in place that will accommodate the varying needs of sports at the present time. However, this program should be refined and improved over time in order to readily adapt to relevant social influences and the dynamic environment associated with high level sport. This program is for swimmers 11 13 years, and number of tests is more less than previuos australian. There are only: land based and water based tests.

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Canadian model In Canada there are also talent identificaton program for swimmers. The leves of this program are: primary level (5 -7 years) second level (10 - 12 years) the thirad level girls (12 - 15 years) and boys (13 - 17 years)

The tests and test protoclos also are included. Tests are from this areas: morphologica physiological and phychological

Conclusion
(Hoare, 2001.) Talent identification and selection is a complex area of the sports sciences as it requires multi-disciplinary models to be developed. This paper presentes few talent identification models in swimming where differences among them could be seen. Differences are in: number of identifaing levels, number of tests test structures standards testing areas age of participant in identification process

For analyzing differences bettwen models we must mention following factors. Status of swimming in mentioned countries are different, so countries where swimming is better positioned are interested in finding talents and give them all needed, to become champions. Finding talents is long lasting period and it is also expencive. So country which want to raise and develop talent identification programs must be economicalally strong. Technological progress of country is factor that influence talent identification programs. In technological well developed countries, talent identification programs can consider much more tests, and get much more usefull informations and in that way get really talented swimmer. On other side it is very important to think for or against talent identification programs, Bompa (1985) suggested that the development of talent evolved slowly and often resulted in incorrect sport selections. Many sport scientists and coaches from relatively small nations believe talent identification to be an essential component of their elite sports development programs. These countries, it may be argued, do not have sufficient population to rely on a trial-and-error approach which eventually allows some athletes to reach the elite levels in sport by a process known as natural or self selection (Bloomfield, Ackland, & Elliott, 1994).

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