Talentidentifisering en -ontwikkeling van 14-15-jarige hokkiespeelsters

Abstract

International competition becomes more challenging as competitors reach top performances at an increasingly younger age. Scientific methods of identifying and developing talent in hockey are not widely used at present, neither in South Africa nor overseas. Such methods can, however, contribute significantly to identify talented players and help to develop talent over a period of time. The first objective of this study was to identify anthropometric, motor, physical, and psychological variables, as well as to identify specific hockey skills that could influence hockey performance at the age of 14/15 years. The objective was to compile a prediction function from the identified components to discriminate between successful and less successful 14/15-year-old female hockey players. The two top girls' hockey teams in the North West Province U/15 hockey league (N=27) were used, as well as the two teams who ended at the bottom of the log (N=25). A test battery of 9 hockey skills, 16 anthropometric, 6 physical and motor abilities was administered to the selected subjects. Two sport psychological tests were also conducted. An analysis of the data was done for descriptive statistical purposes ( x , s), as well as determining the statistical differences between the successful and less successful players (t-, p-values). Results indicated differences between successful and less successful players in 2 anthropometric, 2 physical motor, 2 hockey specific and 2 psychological variables. A stepwise discriminant analysis was conducted on the eight parameters, after which two prediction functions for this study were developed, one consisting of 5 variables and one of 8 variables. Results indicated that a classification of hockey players as successful and less successful is possible. The second objective was to compile a development programme aimed at the age group 14/15 years to be followed by the selected players. The third objective was to implement the development programme on selected players and to monitor the effect of the development programme on the skills and abilities of the players. Information for compiling the development programme was obtained from coaching programmes from Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa. The development programme included basic individual skills and was designed to run over eighteen weeks, twice a week for 1 hour sessions each. The subjects (N=152) for this study were selected from the hockey playing schools in the Potchefstroom, Stilfontein, Klerksdorp and Orkney areas in the North West Province. The prediction function was used to evaluate the players and they were then ranked according to their talent using the canonial variable. The experimental subjects (N=58) who were classified as the most talented according to the ranking, were divided at random into two groups in accordance with the indiscriminate method. These groups were the experimental group (N=26) and control group 1 (N=32). Control group 2 (N=27) consisted of players who did not play hockey but participated in other sport. Control group 1 and control group 2 did not take part in the development programme, but they were tested with the experimental group during two evaluation sessions, with regard to the selected test variables to monitor the effect of the development programme. The first evaluation took place before the commencement of the development programme and the second evaluation at the end of the programme. The test battery was completed to evaluate the hockey development programme and contained the following test variables: anthropometric (7), physical motor (9), hockey specific (9) and psychological (3) variables. The first objective of the study was to use the prediction function to distinguish between successful and less successful hockey players and to identify hockey talent at the age of 14/15 years. The development programme showed an improvement after eighteen weeks of practise in 6 of the physical motor and 7 of the hockey specific test variables. There was, however, no significant improvement in 8 of the physical motor and 4 of the hockey specific variables over the period of eighteen weeks. These results indicate that the programme will have to be adjusted if greater improvement is to be achieved in some of the variables. It can be reported, conclusively, that a valid test battery was found in this study. Talent could be identified and classified in 14/15-year-old hockey players. A practical and successful method has been found to aid the teacher-coach or coach in selecting and developing talent among the 14/15-year age group hockey players in South Africa.