England Hockey Player Pathway Handbook

4. TALENT IDENTIFICATION Do you have a talent identification and selection process which ensures the right player is at the right level of the pathway?

• Your talent identification and selection practices ensure that the right player is in the right environment for their development.

• Your coaches understand and work to the idea of non-linear development.

• Your talent identification processes are built on the concepts of potential.

Training age, maturity and ability to learn are considered in selection.

• As a principle, too many rather than too few players are included through talent identification and selection processes.

• You apply a principle of talent identification and selection throughout talent development. How players learn and respond to a development environment informs identification and selection decisions.

• You avoid snapshot judgements of players based on short periods of assessment.

• You have clearly documented the selection processes which are simple, accessible and understood by players and parents.

• A safety mechanism is in place to ensure late developing players can access The Player Pathway.