Examination of Talent Selection Methods in Different Sports Branches

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the talent selection methods applied to athletes involved in different sports branches in Turkey. The research population consisted of 724 volunteer athletes who were active in sports clubs in thirty seven different cities of Turkey. Semi-structured interview form was used as data collection tool. It was determined that no talent test was applied to 512 (70.72%) of 724 athletes who participated in the study and 212 (29.28%) were put to talent test methods by their coaches. Of 212 athletes who were put to talent test, 41 (5.66%) were observed for their physical characteristics, 59 (8.14%) for their competitions, 75 (10.35%) for their basic motor skills (speed, strength, endurance, coordination, balance, flexibility and agility) and 37 (5.11%) for their technical capacities in competitions. As a result; it is estimated that the application of physical, mental, physiological, body composition and genetic tests all together while determining the talent selection in sports will be the most effective method to detect talented athletes.