Sport Talent and Readiness

Recommended Prerequisites

Concepts of growth and anthropometric assessment for body size, proportionality and non-invasive protocols of body composition taught in the unit "Auxology and Kinanthropometry" of the undergraduate in Sports Sciences; concept of biological maturation and indicators of sexual, somatic and skeletal maturation taught in the unit "Sport for Children and Youth" of the undergraduate in Sports Sciences.

Teaching Methods

Eight blocks of 3-hour organized as follows: incentives for preparatory readings prior to each lecture, presentation of the thematic and topic by the professor, discussion with students, verification of learning outcomes by encouraging the self-production of summaries and suggestions for further readings, especially for the students who would like to produce their dissertations in the selected topics. Evaluation corresponds to discussion of data (tables) and also a thematic review searching for consistencies and equivocal aspects.

Learning Outcomes

Considering the general objectives defined for the master course, the unit "Talent and Readiness" gives the contribution for teaching and learning contents that corresponds to knowledge and skills for social intervention and research projects in sport training, particularly regarding participation, recruitment, talent identification, development as well as sport selection, specialization and orientation including prevention of droup-out. 

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

[1] Statistics and current trends in sport participation; [2] Talent: motor and sport-associated; [3] International Studies: Ghent Soccer, TOYA (Training of Young Athlete); [4] Current research in Basketbal Training Centers, Elite Youth Hockey, Coimbra Longitudinal Soccer; [5] Defining a battery (anthropomety and field test): size and composition of the whole body and appendicular size descriptors; hand-grip, ball-throw, sit-ups, agility, jumping and maximal running (short distance and progressive) performances; [6] Laboratory: air displacement plethysmography, bioimpedance, isokinetic strength, Wingate, Force-Velocity, Ventilatory tests; [7] cross-sectional evidences: i) continuation, drop-out and promotion; ii) specialization by playing position; iii) agreement field and laboratory tests; iv) disciminant function analysis of local, regional and elite levels; [8] Developmental (longitudinal) changes: modelling repeated sprints, jumping performance, specific skills, strength tests.

Head Lecturer(s)

Manuel João Cerdeira Coelho Silva

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Resolution Problems: 50.0%
Synthesis work: 50.0%

Bibliography

[1] Baxter-Jones  A, Maffulli N (2003). Parental Influence on Sport Participation in Elite Young Athletes. J Sports Medicine Physical Fitness, 43(2), 250-255.

[2] Coelho e Silva et al. (2010). Discrimination of U-14 soccer players by level and position. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 31(11), 790-796

[3] Coelho e Silva MJ, Figueiredo AJ, Elferink- Gemser MT, Malina RM (2009). Youth Sports – volume 1: participation, trainability and readiness. Coimbra University Press.

[4] Coelho e Silva MJ, Figueiredo AJ, Elferink- Gemser MT, Malina RM (2010). Youth Sports – volume 2: growth, maturation and talent. Coimbra University Press.

[5] Figueiredo A, Gonçalves C, Coelho e Silva M, Malina R (2009). Characteristics of Youth Soccer Players Who Drop Out, Persist or Move Up. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27,(9), 883-891.