Talent Identification

Lesson 1 - What is Talent?

Friday, 30 January 2009

 Aims
• To identify what talent is
• To understand the origins of the term
“gifted and talented”
• To understand the constructs of talent in
sport
• To discus the limits of talent

Friday, 30 January 2009

 What is Talent?
• Talent is a marked innate ability defined as artistic
accomplishment, natural endowment or an ability
of a superior quality (Williams & Reilly, 2000)
• Talent in sport can be defined as an individual’s
special aptitude that is above average for specific
functions. Physical talents may be functional,
expressive or athletic (Peltola, 1992)

Friday, 30 January 2009

 What is Talent?
• According to Howe et al (1998) talent is the following:
(1) It originates in genetically transmitted structures and
hence is at least partly innate.
(2) Its full effects may not be evident at an early stage, but
there will be some advance indications, allowing trained
people to identify the presence of talent before.
(3) These early indications of talent provide a basis for
predicting who is likely to excel.
(4) Only a minority are talented, for if all children were, there
would be no way to predict or explain differential success.
(5) Talents are relatively domain-specific.
Friday, 30 January 2009
 Gifted and Talented
• Early definitions of talent include “any capacity for
successful activity in a set domain with which the
immediate self of the individual is endowed (Austin,
1925)
• Fliegler (1961) refers to talented as “just below
gifted”
• Gagne et al suggests that lay-people perceive that
gifted persons are more exceptional and rarer than
talented people
• The term ‘gifted and talented’ was first implemented
in the Marland paper (1972)
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 The constructs of talent
Health

Genetics
Sociological
factors
Talent

Anthropometric

Psychological
factors

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 The constructs of talent

http://www.ais.org.au/talent/performance.asp

Friday, 30 January 2009

 Genetics
• ‘A branch of Science that studies patterns of
inheritance of specific traits in successive
generations’
• Questions concern the relative contribution of
natural endowment (genotype) to physiologic
function and exercise performance (phenotype)
Gayagay et al (1998), Maes et al. (1996).
• What physical attributes do you think are
determined by genetics?
Friday, 30 January 2009
 Genetics

• In general, most physical fitness characteristics

demonstrate high heritability.
• Researchers currently estimate the genetic effect at
about 25 to 40% for ⩒O2 max. 50% for maximum
heart rate and 70% for physical working capacity. 40%
variation for muscular strength.
Bouchard et al., eds. (1994),(1992); Perusse et al. (1988).

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 Genetics
• Estimated genetic contribution to individual
differences in important components of health
related physical fitness (Table 11.4 pp237)

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 Genetics Vs Environment
• Individual differences:

• Heredity - the most important factor influencing

performance because:
1. Genetically linked physiological characteristics are
associated with specific performance abilities
2. Genetic makeup establishes the boundary for adaptation.
Some athletes boundary’s are more narrow than others
(less adaptability)
Klissouras, V. Adaptability of genetic variation. J Appl Physiology 31: 338-344,
1971.
Bouchard, C. et al. Genetics of aerobic and anaerobic performance. Med
Sci Sports Exerc 20:27-58, 1992
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 Limits of talent
• Johnson et al (2006)
• Input from six individuals who simultaneously coach
both elite (e.g., World Record holders) and non- elite
(e.g., regional-level) swimmers, and have done so for
an extended period of time
• “What do you feel contributes to a swimmer
achieving top performances (e.g., World Records) vs.
excellent performances (e.g., a Top-8 finish at
NCAAs)?”
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 They concluded
that “hard work
beats talent”

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 Any Questions?

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 Nature Vs Nurture

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 Further Reading
•Bouchard. C, et al., eds. (1994) Physical activity, fitness and health.
Champaign Illinois, Human Kinetics.

•Bouchard. C, et al. (1992) Genetics of anaerobic performance. Exercise

and Sports Science review. 20:27.

•Gayagay. G, et al. (1998) Elite endurance athletes and the ACE I allele-
the rose of genes in athletic performance. Human Genetics. 103-148.

•Maes. H.H, et al. (1996) Inheritance of physical fitness in 10 year old

twins and their parents. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
28:1479.

McArdle, Katch and Katch. Exercise physiology 5th Edition. Chapter 11

Individual differences and measurement of energy capacities.

•Perusse. L, et al. (1988) Inter-generation transmission of physical fitness

in the Canadian population. Canadian Journal of Sports Science. 13:8
Friday, 30 January 2009
 “Talent is Dependent on genetics, environment,
encouragement and the effect of these on
physical and Psychological traits”

Sports Scotland (2000)

Friday, 30 January 2009