Chasing significance in sports science research: A human factors and ergonomics approach to social innovation

Abstract

As the importance of physical activity and sport have become apparent, there has been a concurrent professionalisation of sport, resulting in the pro life ration of talent identification and development (TID) programmes. Rongen, McKenna, Cobley and Till (2018) recently contended that, due to the resource intensive nature (in particular the financial resources required) of such pro grammes, they are under pressure to translate investment into elite athletes. This pressure often results in an unbalanced focus on high level performance rather than holistic development. Consequently, researchers have started to ques tion the effectiveness of talent identification programmes and the wellbeing of participating athletes in terms of both psychological impact and injury risk (Rongen et al., 2018). They conclude by advocating for a shift away from develop ment of elite athletes to a broader objective of supporting participation in sport and the important benefits thereof already highlighted in this chapter. We would go one step further and suggest that the focus should shift from identifica tion and development to broad based participation of youth in a variety of physical and sporting activities. The identification of talent would be a latent benefit at a later stage in the life cycle of the programme (i.e. talented athletes will naturally emerge from within the system).