NOC*NSF seeks talent for TeamNL Talent Day through PE teachers

Origin

Talent identification currently takes place mainly within and by the sports themselves. For many sports, this is also the most effective way to recognise and develop talented athletes. On the other hand, there is also a group of sports, often referred to as late-specialisation sports, in which it is also worthwhile to look for promising athletes outside their own sport. These are mainly sports with a limited number of distinctive, primarily physical characteristics that only really manifest themselves after the growth spurt. In these sports, it is still possible to start at a later age and it remains realistic to reach the world’s elite.

For these late-specialisation sports and some other sports with a few dominant distinguishing characteristics, it is worthwhile to deliberately seek talented athletes outside their own sport. The NOC*NSF National Talent Days were created to start this search.

Target group and process

The Talent Day is intended for young people between 12 and 18 years old who meet a specific physical sports profile, want to get the most out of themselves and do not yet practise the sports represented. Based on their characteristics, the participating sports are divided into three profiles: Long & Strong, Explosive & Fast and Endurance.

Based on the selected profile, the athlete undergoes various physical tests and measurements on the Talent Day. These include endurance, speed, arm span and jump height.

After the NOC*NSF Talent Day, the test results are carefully studied, discussed and ultimately analysed based on a number of criteria. Based on this, a federation decides whether to invite you to a follow-up day, where you can become more familiar with the sport. During the follow-up day, both the athlete and the federation explore and discuss the possibilities and pathway for entering the federation’s development programme.

PE teachers

During lessons, PE teachers often see students who ‘have what it takes’ or who are looking for new challenges. They can now refer them to the website www.ikwistnietdatikhetinmehad.nl.

If they would first like more information themselves, they can contact Anne Ouwerkerk, Project Manager of the TeamNL Talent Day, via [email protected].