YIA Winner at 20th annual congress of the ECSS - ECSS Malmö 2015
Bjørndal, C.T., Ronglan, L.T.
Norwegian School of Sports Sciences
Introduction
Structured talent identification and development (TID) is suggested as a key pillar in international sporting success (De Bosscher, De
Knop, Van Bottenburg, & Shibli, 2006) and many modern elite sport systems have applied normative TID models (Bailey & Collins,
2013). However, Norwegian handball has been highly successful although representing an alternative approach, characterized by a
heterarchical organizational structure with several key actors that function highly autonomous, constituting a complex web of activities
that can be better understood as an ecology of games (Long, 1958). The aim of the study was twofold: (a) to describe and discuss
how aims and strategies vary across and within key actors directly involved in TID, and to (b) identify the inherent organizational
characteristics that influence TID processes.
Methods
The case study focused on TID processes within the organizational context of Norwegian handball, and included two units of analysis:
(i) key actors and their characteristics and (ii) key actor’s inter-communication and collaboration. Sources of data included (a)
document analysis and (b) interviews with 11 key informants. Informants were strategically selected and represent experienced
coaches and professionals from multiple organizational units. The main theoretical concepts were used to develop a focused
code-scheme and all interviews was analysed using MAXQDA (v.11.1.5).
Results
The National Handball Federation (NHF) provide a broad-based model for TID were 23% and 15% of male and woman handball
players participate in regional level initiatives from age 13 to 17 years, in addition to their daily practice in community-based volunteer
sport clubs and sport schools. Actor’s primary objectives vary (e.g. qualifying for tournaments, winning a medal, selecting players to
special teams) and talent development is often a secondary consequence of team performance goals rather than the sole purpose of
practice.
Discussion
The joint efforts from multiple actors involved in TID provide a broad range of developmental influences that can be exploited. The
organizational context shapes developmental pathways towards elite sports and the broad base of TID initiatives creates multiple
access points to the talent pipeline during adolescence. However, because the heterarchical structure involves many actors the
unintended consequences is often related to properly managing training and competition loads, supporting the need for
well-developed coordination mechanisms and good communication between key actors.
References
Bailey, R., & Collins, D. (2013). The Standard Model of Talent Development and Its Discontents. Kinesiology Review, 2(4), 248-259.
De Bosscher, V., De Knop, P., Van Bottenburg, M., & Shibli, S. (2006). A Conceptual Framework for Analysing Sports Policy Factors
Leading to International Sporting Success. European Sport Management Quarterly, 6(2), 185-215.
Long, N. E. (1958). The local community as an ecology of games. American Journal of Sociology, 64(3), 251-261.
christian.bjorndal@nih.no
