What is a Talent Identification Program?
A talent identification or detection program serves no purpose if it is not accompanied by specific programs and activities that will contribute to the development of such talent, from the earliest stages to the highest level of performance. This is part and parcel of the process of replacing retiring athletes, which is extremely critical to a sports federation. Research and popular sport thinking is consistent with where we have evolved. Talent detection and development can be considered essential to the survival of a sport. Because talent identification programs in most sports are relatively unstructured or even non-existent in Canada, many young athletes are attracted primarily towards traditional sports such as hockey or baseball, or figure skating for females. The young athlete is usually not channeled into a sport or activity on the basis of his or her potential for success; rather, he or she gets involved in a sport on a basis of factors such as preference, convenience, influenc
