Sport Coaching: Talent Identification & Development

Unit code: SSC3002 | Study level: Undergraduate
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Footscray Park
N/A
Overview
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Overview

Many young people have dreams and aspirations of becoming elite athletes in sport. The concept of talent identification and development involves coaches and sport scientists using a variety of physiological, technical, tactical, psychological, and performance assessments to identify, select and develop the talents of players so that they can support player participation and performance in sport. Talent identification and development is also an integral part of pathways in sport and is invested in heavily by sporting organisations, because identifying and developing players is not only integral to player and team success, but also to enhanced participation and financial sustainability. In this unit, students will be introduced to the theory and applied practices associated with youth athlete talent identification and development. Specifically, this will focus on talent development pathways, potential predictors of talent, and talent identification processes. In addition, there will be an industry engagement component to the unit, whereby students will be exposed to real-world talent identification and recruitment strategies, by understanding the challenges youth coaches face during the talent identification process though external site visits.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Critically review and understand the theories and principles underlying youth athlete development;
  2. Review and authenticate a variety of current talent identification practices designed to identify youth athletes;
  3. Evaluate the debate associated with talent identification, recruitment and development within the literature and applied settings;
  4. Exhibit understanding of the complexities of talent identification, including the physiological, technical, tactical, psychological, and socio-economic factors that influence talent identification and development; and
  5. Adapt theoretical talent identification principles to real world problems.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Report
|
Grade: 30%
Talent Pathway Report (1000 words)
Assessment type: Case Study
|
Grade: 30%
Challenges of Applied Talent Identification (1000 words)
Assessment type: Test
|
Grade: 20%
Test (Online)
Assessment type: Presentation
|
Grade: 20%
Individual Presentation (15mins)

Required reading

Selected readings will be made available via the unit VU Collaborate site.

As part of a course

This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.

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