Talent Identification and Talent Identification and DevelopmentDevelopment

Steve GunnSteve Gunn

Start ManagerStart Manager

GB GB ROWINGROWING TEAM TEAM

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background::The Recruitment and Development The Recruitment and Development

of Rowers in Great Britainof Rowers in Great Britain

A multi-strand approachA multi-strand approach

School / JuniorSchool / Junior: GB has a great : GB has a great tradition of rowing in its private tradition of rowing in its private schools > historically > most of the schools > historically > most of the JM sweep team. Most of GBs success JM sweep team. Most of GBs success at this level.at this level.

Some girls schools also row.Some girls schools also row.

ClubsClubs: GB has always had a large and : GB has always had a large and widespread club structure – increasing widespread club structure – increasing numbers have Junior programmes. numbers have Junior programmes.

Historically where most of the Historically where most of the scullers and women rowers have come scullers and women rowers have come from.from.

UniversitiesUniversities: Strong tradition in some GB : Strong tradition in some GB universities developing juniors and also universities developing juniors and also recruiting (at 18+). Expanding quite recruiting (at 18+). Expanding quite rapidly and widening the number of rapidly and widening the number of disciplines developed. (best and worst disciplines developed. (best and worst example is the Boat Race). example is the Boat Race).

No year-round National Age-Group No year-round National Age-Group SquadsSquads

National Teams formed for Junior, National Teams formed for Junior, Under 23, FISU Championships (only Under 23, FISU Championships (only for 2 – 6 weeks).for 2 – 6 weeks).

Supported by professional GB Rowing Supported by professional GB Rowing Team head coaches. Team head coaches.

Additional Talent StreamAdditional Talent Stream

12 years ago, it was felt that GB needed 12 years ago, it was felt that GB needed an an outside source of extra athletesoutside source of extra athletes, , both to supplement the traditional routes both to supplement the traditional routes and to strengthen the disciplines where we and to strengthen the disciplines where we were not so strong.were not so strong.

After a pilot scheme, Peter Shakespear After a pilot scheme, Peter Shakespear (Aus) was recruited to develop this. Start (Aus) was recruited to develop this. Start was started (begun?) 9 years ago.was started (begun?) 9 years ago.

Originally Originally

3 centres (with a coach each)3 centres (with a coach each)

10-20 athletes10-20 athletes

……………………………………..has now developed to....has now developed to..

10 full time coaches in 10 centres 10 full time coaches in 10 centres around the countryaround the country

Some (currently 12) Satellites: Some (currently 12) Satellites: (trusted volunteer coaches work with (trusted volunteer coaches work with athletes who cannot be relocated)athletes who cannot be relocated)

Approx 120 athletes aged 14-24Approx 120 athletes aged 14-24

An Extra Talent Stream

Non Rowers (or under - provided ones)

Start must Add Value

Identify Recruit Olympic Rowers

Develop

IDENTIFICATIONIDENTIFICATION

Population:Population:

Numbers - <2% population (height Numbers - <2% population (height alone).alone).

Perhaps 5-10% of those have other Perhaps 5-10% of those have other characteristics as well characteristics as well

Of those 5-10% make it to Senior Of those 5-10% make it to Senior TeamsTeams

Perhaps 1 in 10,000 (ish)Perhaps 1 in 10,000 (ish)

IDENTIFICATIONIDENTIFICATION

BUT …. Population needs to be BUT …. Population needs to be AVAILABLE…AVAILABLE…

Social / Cultural pressures (how Social / Cultural pressures (how rowing is perceived)rowing is perceived)

Small Towns rather than Big CitiesSmall Towns rather than Big Cities

Talent I. D. TestsTalent I. D. Tests

Must be Must be RobustRobust

RepeatableRepeatable

(ideally) Transportable(ideally) Transportable

Easy to administerEasy to administer

Must Identify Key Factors in Potential for Must Identify Key Factors in Potential for the required sport………the required sport………

………………in athletes who have not been in athletes who have not been specifically trained in that sportspecifically trained in that sport

Talent I. D. TestsTalent I. D. Tests

Height, Arm Span, (weight)Height, Arm Span, (weight)

Strength Test (C2 Dyno)Strength Test (C2 Dyno) Power Endurance Test (~ Wingate)Power Endurance Test (~ Wingate)

Endurance Test (Arm & Leg Bike) Endurance Test (Arm & Leg Bike) Max Step TestMax Step Test

NO Prior Training RequiredNO Prior Training Required

Identification / Recruitment Identification / Recruitment StrategiesStrategies

ActiveActive(we go to them)(we go to them)

Go into Local SchoolsGo into Local Schools

Local University Local University Freshers’ WeeksFreshers’ Weeks

PassivePassive(they come to us)(they come to us)

Big Campaigns with Big Campaigns with UK Sport & other NGBsUK Sport & other NGBs

LocalLocal ContactsContacts

Cold CallsCold Calls

Advantages & Advantages & DisadvantagesDisadvantages

ActiveActive

Local to centres, Network of help, Local to centres, Network of help, (relatively) easy to administer, (relatively) easy to administer, recruitment straightforward, On-going.recruitment straightforward, On-going.

Limited genetic pool, Motivation? Limited genetic pool, Motivation? Inefficient Testing.Inefficient Testing.

PassivePassive

Much larger genetic pool (but getting the Much larger genetic pool (but getting the word out!), High levels of motivation, word out!), High levels of motivation, Concentrated testing resources.Concentrated testing resources.

Recruitment may not be easy (relocation Recruitment may not be easy (relocation & timing), Stress on testers, Only once in & timing), Stress on testers, Only once in (4?) years.(4?) years.

Advantages & DisadvantagesAdvantages & Disadvantages

ExampleExample

Tall & Talented – Talent 2016Tall & Talented – Talent 2016

Run with UK Sport and British Basketball.Run with UK Sport and British Basketball.

Launched Oct 2009 Launched Oct 2009

Publicity…….Publicity…….

1500+ sign ups1500+ sign ups

Tall & TalentedTall & Talented Phase 1: 900 Tested Phase 1: 900 Tested

in January 2010, 7 in January 2010, 7 days, 5 locations.days, 5 locations.

Phase 2: 2 camps Phase 2: 2 camps (100) in April(100) in April

Phase 3: c. 44 Phase 3: c. 44 Athletes now on Athletes now on START (joined Aug – START (joined Aug – Oct)Oct)

What we’d like to know…..What we’d like to know…..

TrainabilityTrainability

Skill Learning abilitySkill Learning ability

Mental StuffMental Stuff

Injury History / VulnerabilityInjury History / Vulnerability

““CONFIRMATION”CONFIRMATION”

Are we right for them? Are they right Are we right for them? Are they right for us?for us?

Probation periodProbation period

Care with JuniorsCare with Juniors

DevelopmentDevelopment

The concept of the The concept of the

HIGH PERFORMANCE HIGH PERFORMANCE NOVICENOVICE

SWOT ANALYSISSWOT ANALYSIS

StrengthsStrengths

Well “balanced”Well “balanced”

Ambition grows with Ambition grows with KnowledgeKnowledge

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Lack of PowerLack of Power

Limited LeversLimited Levers

Will learn fasterWill learn faster

Fit into crews easilyFit into crews easily

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Limited possibilitiesLimited possibilities

ThreatsThreats

Mr/Ms Average

SWOT ANALYSISSWOT ANALYSIS

StrengthsStrengths

Abnormally tall (good levers)Abnormally tall (good levers)

Very Strong Major Drive Very Strong Major Drive Muscles. Fit, Highly Muscles. Fit, Highly motivatedmotivated

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Other muscles Other muscles comparatively weak, poor comparatively weak, poor

posture & flexibility, posture & flexibility, Naïve / ignorantNaïve / ignorant

Very high power outputs,Very high power outputs,

Big Ergo Scores, Big Ergo Scores,

Major Boat Mover,Major Boat Mover,

GB athleteGB athlete

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Injury, learns bad technique, Injury, learns bad technique, builds a limiting factor in builds a limiting factor in trying to learn / load too trying to learn / load too

quicklyquickly

ThreatsThreats

High Performance

Novice

High Performance NovicesHigh Performance Novices

Exceptionally Good at some thingsExceptionally Good at some things

BUT Average at the restBUT Average at the rest

= Big differences = “unbalanced = Big differences = “unbalanced athlete”athlete”

““medium people” are easier to coach medium people” are easier to coach / deal with/ deal with

Development StrategyDevelopment Strategy

High Level Professional Development High Level Professional Development right from recruitment is vital to right from recruitment is vital to maximise the chance of successful maximise the chance of successful long term developmentlong term development

The Quality of Coaching is crucial. The Quality of Coaching is crucial. They must understand and be They must understand and be sympathetic to the problems posed sympathetic to the problems posed by taking athletes from Zero to by taking athletes from Zero to Olympics.Olympics.

““A Clean Sheet to paint your own A Clean Sheet to paint your own picture on(?)”picture on(?)”

Not true – what have they done since Not true – what have they done since birth?birth?

Ability setsAbility sets

Skill SetsSkill Sets

THEN - TechniqueTHEN - Technique

Technical Model

Is it

Real?

What are The

Key Elements?

Flexibility

Balance

Core

Morphology

Strength

Speed

etc

BUT

Developing H P NovicesDeveloping H P Novices

Make the bricks before the wallMake the bricks before the wall

Posture

Hip flexors

flexibilty

Quads

Glutes

r. cuff

Lats

thoracic

Lower traps

Biceps

hamstringsGood

Technique

Driving

sequ

ence

Shoulder stability

?

Why Don’t People Row Well?Why Don’t People Row Well?

“Skill Sets”

+

“Abilities”

Rowing

Technique

Coaching

Functional Racing

Technique

Training

It is important to try to deal with It is important to try to deal with each threat or imbalance.each threat or imbalance.

And to develop good technique And to develop good technique before poor movement patterns before poor movement patterns cause limited performance or injurycause limited performance or injury

(Resulting in loss of motivation and (Resulting in loss of motivation and failure)failure)

Before TechniqueBefore Technique

May need to addressMay need to address

Skill setsSkill sets““Abilities”Abilities”

CoreCoreFlexibilityFlexibility

Body ShapeBody ShapeConfidenceConfidence

BalanceBalance

How?How?

Confidence drillsConfidence drills

Core / Flexibility & Weights etc ProgrammeCore / Flexibility & Weights etc Programme

Limited Sculling (don’t take bad strokes)Limited Sculling (don’t take bad strokes)

Cross Training until rowing training can be Cross Training until rowing training can be done technically well.done technically well.

ChallengesChallenges

Motivation Motivation

Enough rowing/racing to make it Enough rowing/racing to make it interestinginteresting

Individualised pace of learning – high Individualised pace of learning – high coach / athlete ratio requiredcoach / athlete ratio required

Beware of training sport specific Beware of training sport specific movement until it can be done correctly.movement until it can be done correctly.

Avoid the temptation to accelerate rowing Avoid the temptation to accelerate rowing performance too early.performance too early.

Paradoxically slow and careful Paradoxically slow and careful development leads to the fastest resultsdevelopment leads to the fastest results

Fast Track?Fast Track?

MonitoringMonitoring

Start athletes brought together 7 times Start athletes brought together 7 times per year for testing and education camps.per year for testing and education camps.

Performance, skill attainment and various Performance, skill attainment and various physical factors are measured physical factors are measured and and publishedpublished..

Camp Results help to drive the Camp Results help to drive the programme in between the campsprogramme in between the camps

SupportSupport Investment is via CoachingInvestment is via Coaching

Athletes are not paid or given grants (until Athletes are not paid or given grants (until performance eg. WC junior or U23 medal)performance eg. WC junior or U23 medal)

Support services minimal – generally as Support services minimal – generally as education and consultancy for coacheseducation and consultancy for coaches

Allows Maximum numbers of coachesAllows Maximum numbers of coaches

CoachesCoaches

Specialised task (hence the problem of Specialised task (hence the problem of satellites)satellites)

InductionInduction

Development, Collegiality and Development, Collegiality and CompetitionCompetition

Leadership and Innovation (rather than Leadership and Innovation (rather than Management, Control and Dogma)Management, Control and Dogma)

End PointEnd Point

Ideally when athletes “graduate” by Ideally when athletes “graduate” by joining the senior national squads.joining the senior national squads.

Athletes who fail to progress are Athletes who fail to progress are helped and counselled. Very few are helped and counselled. Very few are “sacked” most withdraw themselves “sacked” most withdraw themselves (due to transparency?). (due to transparency?). Encouraged to continue rowing or Encouraged to continue rowing or coaching whenever possible. coaching whenever possible.

Success?Success?

2008 Olympics:2008 Olympics:

3 (female) athletes (2 medals)3 (female) athletes (2 medals)

2009 2009

14 World Champs athletes (2 medals)14 World Champs athletes (2 medals)

6 athletes at World Under 23’s 6 athletes at World Under 23’s

2 athletes at World Juniors 2 athletes at World Juniors

20102010

16 World Champs Athletes (4 16 World Champs Athletes (4 new)(7 medals)new)(7 medals)

5 athletes at World under 23’s5 athletes at World under 23’s

3 athletes at Junior Worlds3 athletes at Junior Worlds

Future QuestionsFuture Questions

Age for recruitment?Age for recruitment?

Recruitment of FemalesRecruitment of Females

Central resourced academyCentral resourced academy

vsvs

Widespread club-based systemWidespread club-based system

Questions?Questions?

Thanks for Thanks for ListeningListening