Overview

The course is delivered by two Talent Development scientists that work with leading sports organisations (e.g., UK Sport, The England and Wales Cricket Board, Welsh Basketball). In addition, one of the course lecturers is a qualified Level 3 (UKCC) Coach (and currently working towards level 4). Broadly speaking, the course is divided into three parts, namely, ‘demographics', ‘psychosocial’, and ‘training and practice’. In the opening section, we will address issues related to talent development surrounding the athletes background and upbringing. In the second section, the psychological 'make-up' of athletes will be discussed in order to better understand 'talented' mind-sets. In the final section, we will look at optimising practice environments in order to develop talent within the skills and practice arena. Considerations regarding the level impact on the effective development of talent will be a central theme to all three sections.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -students should be able to demonstrate an adequate or basic understanding of the underlying theories of any 2 of the following; demographics of experts and talented individuals, psychosocial attributes of experts and talented individuals, the practice and training histories and activities of experts and talented individuals. They will be able to demonstrate to an adequate level how at least one of the above factors can can inform good practice within talent development programmes, in addition showing an understanding of how some of the issues/topics discussed are inter-related. There may also be occasional inaccuracies and irrelevant content. -good -students should be able to present an in-depth very good discussion of the underlying theories and current research related to any 2 of the following; demographics of experts and talented individuals, psychosocial attributes of experts and talented individuals, the practice and training histories and activities of experts and talented individuals. They will be able to use their understanding to demonstrate how any 2 of these factors can inform good practice within talent development programmes, in addition to clearly explaining how the issues/topics discussed are inter-related -excellent -students should be able to present an outstanding in-depth critical discussion of the underlying theories and current research related to any 2 of the following; demographics of experts and talented individuals, psychosocial attributes of experts and talented individuals, the practice and training histories and activities of experts and talented individuals. They will be able to use their deep understanding to demonstrate how theories surrounding any 2 of these topics can inform good practice within talent development programmes, in addition to clearly explaining how the issues/topics discussed are inter-related.

Learning Outcomes

• Critically apply, empirically informed demographics and psychosocial attributes into the performance environment in order to contribute to successful talent development.

• Demonstrate critical, in depth, discussion and application surrounding empirically informed practice and training environments, together with associated theoretical proposals, that can be best used to develop talent.

• Demonstrate critical, in depth, discussion surrounding the demographic and psychosocial attributes of expert performers together with the theoretical underpinnings of these attributes.