ECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP10
INTRODUCTION: In competitive sports, nations have an increased interest in identifying and developing talented athletes. However, only a handful of these gifted individuals make it to the top. This situation poses a challenge, especially for smaller countries with a potentially limited pool of promising athletes or budget. A talent transfer—meaning the transfer of already (semi)successful athletes to another sport—can be an opportunity to convert the support already made, ideally into a medal. However, clubs and associations often hesitate to release their athletes, having invested significant time and resources in them, which is not always in the interests of the athletes. Therefore, this study aims to identify motives and circumstances with a positive influence for a successful talent transfer. METHODS: A total of seven German athletes (25±2 years; n♀=4) who had changed sports during their career were asked about their talent transfer using a guided interview. All participants are currently professional athletes, part of their national teams, and regularly compete internationally. The interviews focused on reasons for the switch, the transfer process, encountered challenges, differences between the original and new sports, and available support. The transcribed interviews were then analyzed using MAXQDA. RESULTS: Interviewed athletes from the sports of gymnastics, athletics, volleyball, and swimming transitioned to pole vaulting, bobsledding, triathlon, rowing, or ski freestyle aerials at an average age of 19. Common reasons for switching included lack of motivation, enjoyment, or prospects for international success in their original sport. The athletes emphasized an importance of family support and noted similar physiological demands in the switched-to sport being helpful. Technical challenges were mitigated through gentle introduction with less pressure. The athletes supported a talent transfer but expressed concerns about the absence of organized programs in Central Europe and pointed in particular to the lack of support from clubs and associations for athletes switching sports. CONCLUSION: Overall, there are a variety of possible reasons for a positive talent transfer. However, according to the athletes interviewed, similar physical abilities and a basic understanding of the fundamentals of the target sport appear to be crucial for a successful talent transition. Other studies show, such alignment can lead to rapid performance improvements, further endorsing successful talent transfers (Cury et al., 2022, doi: 10.1080/23750472.2022.2033638). In addition, there are already confirmed motivational and psychological effects that can ultimately be the cause of making a talent transfer (MacNamara, & Collins, 2015, doi: 10.1080/02640414.2014.908324). Although there are already promising talent development programs in Australia and Canada, the extent to which these can also be established in Germany and prevail against internal club interests remains to be investigated.
Read CV Maximilian SienerECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP10
INTRODUCTION:
Background: Youth soccer players in the UK transition into the professional game at 16 years of age. Understanding the differences between youth and professional standards can help coaches and clubs to support player development during this transition. Objectives: To (i) assess the differences in technical and possession statistics between different age groups (U16, U18, U23) and outfield positions (central defender [CD], wide defender [WD], central midfielder [CM], attacking midfielder [AM], wide midfielder [WM], striker [ST]), within an English academy soccer programme, during match-play.
METHODS:
All matches were monitored using foot-mounted inertial measurements units (F-IMU; PlayermakerTM) to quantify the technical (touches and releases from the feet) and individual possession statistics (Time on the ball, Time on the ball per possession) from each match. Teams were instructed to play a 1-4-3-3 formation as part of their clubs playing philosophy, with positions defined per this formation. Data were analysed using a multi-variate ANOVA Two-tailed statistical significance was accepted as p < 0.05 and measures of effect size were calculated using partial eta-squared (η2). Magnitude of the effect sizes were small (0.2 ECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP10
INTRODUCTION: Polarized training model could improve endurance performance of elite endurance athletes, and being used widely on modern cross-country (XC) skiing training [1,2]. In XC skiing competition, the short distance skiing competition demanding athletes need be both strong physiologically and tactically [3]. Aiming for XC skiing success at the Winter Olympic Games (WOG), China has developed a talent transfer program in which athletes from various summer sports by utilizing world class coaching and training methods [4]. However, the effects of long period polarized training on the capability of short-distance sprint skiing of elite male talent-transferring XC skiers are not clear. METHODS: 10 elite male talent-transferring XC skiers [Age: (19.9±1.4) years old; Height: (178.5±4.3) cm; Weight: (70.0±5.6) kg; VO2peak: (78.8±6.1) ml·min-1·kg-1] of Chinese national XC skiing team took part in 10 weeks polarized training. 3 times XC short-distance sprint competition (the 1st, 6th and 10th week) and 3 times skiing-ergometer & watt-bike testing [the 1st (Week 3), 2nd (Week 4) and 3rd (Week 8) test] were organized during the 10 weeks training period. Training time and intensity were calculated on basis of recordings from heart rate (HR) monitors (Garmin 255, Garmin Ltd., USA) during 10 weeks training. Repeated-measures ANOVA test was used to compare athletes themselves between tests or competitions (the 1st test / Week 1 competitions, the 2nd test / Week 6 competitions, the 3rd test / Week 10 competitions). Significance was set at P＜0.05. RESULTS: Compared with the 1st test, the athletes’ 5 groups average power output per kilogram of the 1.5 min and 1 min skiing-ergometer test were increased significantly (3.4%, 6.0% respectively; P＜0.05) in the 3rd test. Compared with the competition results of the free technique and classic technique of the 1st week, the athletes’ average time of qualification and quarter final were decreased significantly both in the Week 6 and Week 10 (Week 6, free 3.7%\3.9%, classic 1.0%\1.4%; Week 10, free 4.8%\3.8%. classic 1.8%/1.4%; P＜0.05). CONCLUSION: After 10 weeks polarized training, the athletes’ capability of XC skiing-specific power output and competition performance of short-distance sprint skiing were increased significantly. In the future training, it is suggested that Chinese elite talent transferring XC skiers should add the running formed high intensity training (HIT) into training schedule, and insistent systematical XC skiing specific strength training and skiing-ergometer formed HIT sessions, to improve the capability of maximal oxygen uptake, continuously power output under high intensity, XC skiing specific strength and XC skiing specific power output. 1. Billat et al. (2001) 2. Sandbakk et al. (2017) 3. Sandbakk & Holmberg (2011) 4. Cai et al. (2021)
Read CV Xudan CaiECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP10