Talent ID and Development Camps

Transcription

1 Cycling South Africa, Raats Drive, Tableview, 7 PO Box 7, Tableview, 79, Republic of South Africa TEL: FAX: info@cyclingsa.com WEB: Talent ID and Development Camps Supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation Synopsis The Department of Sport and Recreation supported T & D initiatives across all sporting codes from 9 through to January. This program supported Cycling South Africa talent identification and development camps for the period covering January to January. The primary aim of these camps was to provide scientific and medical support to developing athletes between the ages of and 5. Medical screening of athletes participating in sport is of great importance. The recent case of two cardiac arrests in football highlights the need for screening of athletes for congenital cardiac abnormalities. In addition, the medical screening provides an opportunity to assess the risk for injury and intervene prior to the occurrence of overuse injuries. Scientific testing provides valuable data as highlighted in the aims of the program as listed below. This program ran successfully for a period of months at which time the funding for these camps was abruptly discontinued in January without notice, nor explanation. No contingency plan or funding has been provided to support the athletes who were reliant on this program.

2 Aims of T + D Camps specific to Cycling in SA Primary aims of the program To determine the physiological and health status of athletes and to intervene to alter potentially limiting factors. To construct an event specific physiological profile and database of athletes participating in the discipline for long term use (comparison of young athlete profile with international bests & longitudinal analysis of athlete progress) To indicate the athlete's strengths and weaknesses relevant to his/her discipline and to provide guidance to National coaching structures in optimizing their performance. To provide baseline data for accurate and scientific training prescription. Secondary aims of the program Establishing sound selection criteria Creating an athlete database Monitoring performance outcomes Long term athlete development monitoring Athlete stratification according to international and local standards Setting standards for talent ID. Health related components of the program Medical screening and intervention Psychology screening and intervention Nutritional screening and intervention Biomechanics screening and intervention Education of athletes Timing of T + D camps Each athlete completed the set of tests on two occasions each year. These visits were set in conjunction with each discipline s racing calendar. Specific dates can be provided if requested.

3 Outcomes Summary of tests and interventions A total of 9 athletes attended camps throughout the month period that this program was in operation. Camps provided data with regards to the composition of the developing group of athletes in the sport in each discipline. This is graphically represented in Figure which demonstrates the demographics of participating athletes for the road and track disciplines. The longitudinal data collected from each camp s performance tests also provided insight into the performance progression of athletes indipendant of race results (Figure ) as planned. By testing the top athlete in each discipline (often close to international best), a comparison could be made between international requirements and the athletes within the developing talent pool (Figure )

4 Figure. Demogrpahics of camps Black White Male Female ROAD 8 Black White Male Female Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr- May- Jun- Jul- Aug- Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- TRACK

5 Figure. Longitudinal monitoring of athlete progress. Godfrey Buziba Wa#s PPO km TT PO 5s Sprint Max s Sprint Max PPO W/kg km TT W/kg FaOgue index (%) Jan- Apr- Jul- Oct- Jan-

6 Figure. Comparison of physiological profiles for elite vs developing athlete BMX International competitor Wa#s W/Kg Mass PPO w/kg LT LT W/ km TT kg TT W/kg Non Sprint Variables Wa#s BMX Athlete within T + D pool Mass PPO w/kg LT LT W/ km TT kg TT W/kg Non Sprint Variables 5 W/Kg

7 Budget Total Allocation: R 7 7. Total Spending: R Summary The talent identification program supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation provided a valuable resource to the Federation. This program provided possibly the only contact point for many disadvantaged athletes with respect to medical care, psychology and nutritional education and scientific support and testing. The sudden cessation of the program has left our young athletes, the group most likely to win medals in the and Olympic games without this much needed support. In addition, we are not collecting objective data and can therefore not track the physiological characteristics of these athletes in comparison to the international requirements for performance at elite level. The lack of specific data means that the identification of shortfalls in training, nutrition and other areas cannot be identified. In short, the sudden withdrawal of funding will have long term and far reaching consequences for the development, transformation and performance of athletes in the sport of Cycling.