Download - Talent Identification and Development
Talent Identification and Talent Identification and DevelopmentDevelopment
Steve GunnSteve Gunn
Start ManagerStart Manager
GB GB ROWINGROWING TEAM TEAM
Historical BackgroundHistorical Background::The Recruitment and Development The Recruitment and Development
of Rowers in Great Britainof Rowers in Great Britain
A multi-strand approachA multi-strand approach
School / JuniorSchool / Junior: GB has a great : GB has a great tradition of rowing in its private tradition of rowing in its private schools > historically > most of the schools > historically > most of the JM sweep team. Most of GBs success JM sweep team. Most of GBs success at this level.at this level.
Some girls schools also row.Some girls schools also row.
ClubsClubs: GB has always had a large and : GB has always had a large and widespread club structure – increasing widespread club structure – increasing numbers have Junior programmes. numbers have Junior programmes.
Historically where most of the Historically where most of the scullers and women rowers have come scullers and women rowers have come from.from.
UniversitiesUniversities: Strong tradition in some GB : Strong tradition in some GB universities developing juniors and also universities developing juniors and also recruiting (at 18+). Expanding quite recruiting (at 18+). Expanding quite rapidly and widening the number of rapidly and widening the number of disciplines developed. (best and worst disciplines developed. (best and worst example is the Boat Race). example is the Boat Race).
No year-round National Age-Group No year-round National Age-Group SquadsSquads
National Teams formed for Junior, National Teams formed for Junior, Under 23, FISU Championships (only Under 23, FISU Championships (only for 2 – 6 weeks).for 2 – 6 weeks).
Supported by professional GB Rowing Supported by professional GB Rowing Team head coaches. Team head coaches.
Additional Talent StreamAdditional Talent Stream
12 years ago, it was felt that GB needed 12 years ago, it was felt that GB needed an an outside source of extra athletesoutside source of extra athletes, , both to supplement the traditional routes both to supplement the traditional routes and to strengthen the disciplines where we and to strengthen the disciplines where we were not so strong.were not so strong.
After a pilot scheme, Peter Shakespear After a pilot scheme, Peter Shakespear (Aus) was recruited to develop this. Start (Aus) was recruited to develop this. Start was started (begun?) 9 years ago.was started (begun?) 9 years ago.
Originally Originally
3 centres (with a coach each)3 centres (with a coach each)
10-20 athletes10-20 athletes
……………………………………..has now developed to....has now developed to..
10 full time coaches in 10 centres 10 full time coaches in 10 centres around the countryaround the country
Some (currently 12) Satellites: Some (currently 12) Satellites: (trusted volunteer coaches work with (trusted volunteer coaches work with athletes who cannot be relocated)athletes who cannot be relocated)
Approx 120 athletes aged 14-24Approx 120 athletes aged 14-24
An Extra Talent Stream
Non Rowers (or under - provided ones)
Start must Add Value
Identify Recruit Olympic Rowers
Develop
IDENTIFICATIONIDENTIFICATION
Population:Population:
Numbers - <2% population (height Numbers - <2% population (height alone).alone).
Perhaps 5-10% of those have other Perhaps 5-10% of those have other characteristics as well characteristics as well
Of those 5-10% make it to Senior Of those 5-10% make it to Senior TeamsTeams
Perhaps 1 in 10,000 (ish)Perhaps 1 in 10,000 (ish)
IDENTIFICATIONIDENTIFICATION
BUT …. Population needs to be BUT …. Population needs to be AVAILABLE…AVAILABLE…
Social / Cultural pressures (how Social / Cultural pressures (how rowing is perceived)rowing is perceived)
Small Towns rather than Big CitiesSmall Towns rather than Big Cities
Talent I. D. TestsTalent I. D. Tests
Must be Must be RobustRobust
RepeatableRepeatable
(ideally) Transportable(ideally) Transportable
Easy to administerEasy to administer
Must Identify Key Factors in Potential for Must Identify Key Factors in Potential for the required sport………the required sport………
………………in athletes who have not been in athletes who have not been specifically trained in that sportspecifically trained in that sport
Talent I. D. TestsTalent I. D. Tests
Height, Arm Span, (weight)Height, Arm Span, (weight)
Strength Test (C2 Dyno)Strength Test (C2 Dyno) Power Endurance Test (~ Wingate)Power Endurance Test (~ Wingate)
Endurance Test (Arm & Leg Bike) Endurance Test (Arm & Leg Bike) Max Step TestMax Step Test
NO Prior Training RequiredNO Prior Training Required
Identification / Recruitment Identification / Recruitment StrategiesStrategies
ActiveActive(we go to them)(we go to them)
Go into Local SchoolsGo into Local Schools
Local University Local University Freshers’ WeeksFreshers’ Weeks
PassivePassive(they come to us)(they come to us)
Big Campaigns with Big Campaigns with UK Sport & other NGBsUK Sport & other NGBs
LocalLocal ContactsContacts
Cold CallsCold Calls
Advantages & Advantages & DisadvantagesDisadvantages
ActiveActive
Local to centres, Network of help, Local to centres, Network of help, (relatively) easy to administer, (relatively) easy to administer, recruitment straightforward, On-going.recruitment straightforward, On-going.
Limited genetic pool, Motivation? Limited genetic pool, Motivation? Inefficient Testing.Inefficient Testing.
PassivePassive
Much larger genetic pool (but getting the Much larger genetic pool (but getting the word out!), High levels of motivation, word out!), High levels of motivation, Concentrated testing resources.Concentrated testing resources.
Recruitment may not be easy (relocation Recruitment may not be easy (relocation & timing), Stress on testers, Only once in & timing), Stress on testers, Only once in (4?) years.(4?) years.
Advantages & DisadvantagesAdvantages & Disadvantages
ExampleExample
Tall & Talented – Talent 2016Tall & Talented – Talent 2016
Run with UK Sport and British Basketball.Run with UK Sport and British Basketball.
Launched Oct 2009 Launched Oct 2009
Publicity…….Publicity…….
1500+ sign ups1500+ sign ups
Tall & TalentedTall & Talented Phase 1: 900 Tested Phase 1: 900 Tested
in January 2010, 7 in January 2010, 7 days, 5 locations.days, 5 locations.
Phase 2: 2 camps Phase 2: 2 camps (100) in April(100) in April
Phase 3: c. 44 Phase 3: c. 44 Athletes now on Athletes now on START (joined Aug – START (joined Aug – Oct)Oct)
What we’d like to know…..What we’d like to know…..
TrainabilityTrainability
Skill Learning abilitySkill Learning ability
Mental StuffMental Stuff
Injury History / VulnerabilityInjury History / Vulnerability
““CONFIRMATION”CONFIRMATION”
Are we right for them? Are they right Are we right for them? Are they right for us?for us?
Probation periodProbation period
Care with JuniorsCare with Juniors
DevelopmentDevelopment
The concept of the The concept of the
HIGH PERFORMANCE HIGH PERFORMANCE NOVICENOVICE
SWOT ANALYSISSWOT ANALYSIS
StrengthsStrengths
Well “balanced”Well “balanced”
Ambition grows with Ambition grows with KnowledgeKnowledge
WeaknessesWeaknesses
Lack of PowerLack of Power
Limited LeversLimited Levers
Will learn fasterWill learn faster
Fit into crews easilyFit into crews easily
OpportunitiesOpportunities
Limited possibilitiesLimited possibilities
ThreatsThreats
Mr/Ms Average
SWOT ANALYSISSWOT ANALYSIS
StrengthsStrengths
Abnormally tall (good levers)Abnormally tall (good levers)
Very Strong Major Drive Very Strong Major Drive Muscles. Fit, Highly Muscles. Fit, Highly motivatedmotivated
WeaknessesWeaknesses
Other muscles Other muscles comparatively weak, poor comparatively weak, poor
posture & flexibility, posture & flexibility, Naïve / ignorantNaïve / ignorant
Very high power outputs,Very high power outputs,
Big Ergo Scores, Big Ergo Scores,
Major Boat Mover,Major Boat Mover,
GB athleteGB athlete
OpportunitiesOpportunities
Injury, learns bad technique, Injury, learns bad technique, builds a limiting factor in builds a limiting factor in trying to learn / load too trying to learn / load too
quicklyquickly
ThreatsThreats
High Performance
Novice
High Performance NovicesHigh Performance Novices
Exceptionally Good at some thingsExceptionally Good at some things
BUT Average at the restBUT Average at the rest
= Big differences = “unbalanced = Big differences = “unbalanced athlete”athlete”
““medium people” are easier to coach medium people” are easier to coach / deal with/ deal with
Development StrategyDevelopment Strategy
High Level Professional Development High Level Professional Development right from recruitment is vital to right from recruitment is vital to maximise the chance of successful maximise the chance of successful long term developmentlong term development
The Quality of Coaching is crucial. The Quality of Coaching is crucial. They must understand and be They must understand and be sympathetic to the problems posed sympathetic to the problems posed by taking athletes from Zero to by taking athletes from Zero to Olympics.Olympics.
““A Clean Sheet to paint your own A Clean Sheet to paint your own picture on(?)”picture on(?)”
Not true – what have they done since Not true – what have they done since birth?birth?
Ability setsAbility sets
Skill SetsSkill Sets
THEN - TechniqueTHEN - Technique
Technical Model
Is it
Real?
What are The
Key Elements?
Flexibility
Balance
Core
Morphology
Strength
Speed
etc
BUT
Developing H P NovicesDeveloping H P Novices
Make the bricks before the wallMake the bricks before the wall
Posture
Hip flexors
flexibilty
Quads
Glutes
r. cuff
Lats
thoracic
Lower traps
Biceps
hamstringsGood
Technique
Driving
sequ
ence
Shoulder stability
?
Why Don’t People Row Well?Why Don’t People Row Well?
“Skill Sets”
+
“Abilities”
Rowing
Technique
Coaching
Functional Racing
Technique
Training
It is important to try to deal with It is important to try to deal with each threat or imbalance.each threat or imbalance.
And to develop good technique And to develop good technique before poor movement patterns before poor movement patterns cause limited performance or injurycause limited performance or injury
(Resulting in loss of motivation and (Resulting in loss of motivation and failure)failure)
Before TechniqueBefore Technique
May need to addressMay need to address
Skill setsSkill sets““Abilities”Abilities”
CoreCoreFlexibilityFlexibility
Body ShapeBody ShapeConfidenceConfidence
BalanceBalance
How?How?
Confidence drillsConfidence drills
Core / Flexibility & Weights etc ProgrammeCore / Flexibility & Weights etc Programme
Limited Sculling (don’t take bad strokes)Limited Sculling (don’t take bad strokes)
Cross Training until rowing training can be Cross Training until rowing training can be done technically well.done technically well.
ChallengesChallenges
Motivation Motivation
Enough rowing/racing to make it Enough rowing/racing to make it interestinginteresting
Individualised pace of learning – high Individualised pace of learning – high coach / athlete ratio requiredcoach / athlete ratio required
Beware of training sport specific Beware of training sport specific movement until it can be done correctly.movement until it can be done correctly.
Avoid the temptation to accelerate rowing Avoid the temptation to accelerate rowing performance too early.performance too early.
Paradoxically slow and careful Paradoxically slow and careful development leads to the fastest resultsdevelopment leads to the fastest results
Fast Track?Fast Track?
MonitoringMonitoring
Start athletes brought together 7 times Start athletes brought together 7 times per year for testing and education camps.per year for testing and education camps.
Performance, skill attainment and various Performance, skill attainment and various physical factors are measured physical factors are measured and and publishedpublished..
Camp Results help to drive the Camp Results help to drive the programme in between the campsprogramme in between the camps
SupportSupport Investment is via CoachingInvestment is via Coaching
Athletes are not paid or given grants (until Athletes are not paid or given grants (until performance eg. WC junior or U23 medal)performance eg. WC junior or U23 medal)
Support services minimal – generally as Support services minimal – generally as education and consultancy for coacheseducation and consultancy for coaches
Allows Maximum numbers of coachesAllows Maximum numbers of coaches
CoachesCoaches
Specialised task (hence the problem of Specialised task (hence the problem of satellites)satellites)
InductionInduction
Development, Collegiality and Development, Collegiality and CompetitionCompetition
Leadership and Innovation (rather than Leadership and Innovation (rather than Management, Control and Dogma)Management, Control and Dogma)
End PointEnd Point
Ideally when athletes “graduate” by Ideally when athletes “graduate” by joining the senior national squads.joining the senior national squads.
Athletes who fail to progress are Athletes who fail to progress are helped and counselled. Very few are helped and counselled. Very few are “sacked” most withdraw themselves “sacked” most withdraw themselves (due to transparency?). (due to transparency?). Encouraged to continue rowing or Encouraged to continue rowing or coaching whenever possible. coaching whenever possible.
Success?Success?
2008 Olympics:2008 Olympics:
3 (female) athletes (2 medals)3 (female) athletes (2 medals)
2009 2009
14 World Champs athletes (2 medals)14 World Champs athletes (2 medals)
6 athletes at World Under 23’s 6 athletes at World Under 23’s
2 athletes at World Juniors 2 athletes at World Juniors
20102010
16 World Champs Athletes (4 16 World Champs Athletes (4 new)(7 medals)new)(7 medals)
5 athletes at World under 23’s5 athletes at World under 23’s
3 athletes at Junior Worlds3 athletes at Junior Worlds
Future QuestionsFuture Questions
Age for recruitment?Age for recruitment?
Recruitment of FemalesRecruitment of Females
Central resourced academyCentral resourced academy
vsvs
Widespread club-based systemWidespread club-based system
Questions?Questions?
Thanks for Thanks for ListeningListening