Define talent.

Outline traditional talent identification (TI) processes.

Identify reasons for an elite athlete to transfer to a second sport.

An athlete is in the mastery stage of their talent development. Discuss factors that affect their performance.

a natural aptitude / skill / a multidimensional concept identified by characteristics that are both genetic, <physiological/psychological>, and environmental <sociological> ✔

subjective assessments <eg coach’s opinion during selection process> ✔

objective testing that may be physiological <eg aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, speed and strength> / anthropometric <eg height, weight, body composition> / performance-based <eg skill and agility> ✔

an injury ✔

plateau in performance / loss of motivation ✔

desire to prolong an athlete’s sporting career / geographical reasons ✔

desire for a greater success than that in the first sport / financial reasons ✔

progressions through the stage and transition into the next stage eg mastery to maintenance/perfection stage will affect the performance ✔

changes in participation goals / change in motivation type, eg change in focus to performance mastery/enjoyment ✔

new opportunities, eg chance to train with a specialist coach / increase in hours of deliberate practice ✔

increased obstacles could cause an injury ✔

changes in factors may cause different psychological behaviours, eg coach-led versus self-determined motivation ✔

family influence, eg parental support ✔