At the invitation of the University of Ulster, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Beckmann held two master's classes. During the summer semester, at the university located in North Ireland, the Professor of the Chair of Sport Psychology spoke of talent development in soccer.
"Staff of the University were the audience on the one hand. Here I have employed a stronger scientific focus. The second group consisted of trainers who, within the framework of the trainer academy of the master's course of studies, learned coaching," explains Prof. Beckmann and explained that, "the interest was very intensive. The coaches clearly express a desire for more academic training."
Three phases of talent development
In the lectures, Prof. Beckmann outlined possibilities and requirements for training talented individuals based on the knowledge of sports scientific research. Hereby, he deliberately provoked them, according to Beckmann.
The development of talents is carried out in different phases. Beckmann uses the model of Jean Côté as a basis for this. Hereby, sport specialization only takes place beginning at the age of twelve years. "Prior to that it is more common to try out various sports in a playful manner and to learn movements. This nevertheless occurs in a structured manner, but with little pressure," explains Beckmann. This is followed, between the ages of 13 and 17, by the so-called "investment years", with the systematic development of sport-specific performance components. At the age of 18, the so-called "performance years", that is the time of maximum performance as well as the breakthrough of the athlete - ideally in professional sports.
"Life Coaching": implementation at FC Augsburg"
Good talent development may not one-dimensional, but must be diverse. At best, it is also comprised of a type of 'life coaching', where the specific goal is the development of personality," Beckmann explains. The Department of Sport Psychology currently successfully implements this approach together with the junior performance center of the FC Augsburg in Germany.
The contact with the University of Ulster was made in March. As the invited keynote speaker, the Full Professor of the Chair of Sports Psychology spoke in Edinburgh at the conference of British professional trainers.
To the homepage of the Department of Sports Psychology
To the homepage of the University of Ulster
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Beckmann
Chair of sports psychology
Uptown München, Campus D
Georg Brauchle Ring 60/62
80992 Munich
Phone: 089 289 24541
Email: info(at)sportpsychologie.tum.de
Text: Fabian Kautz
Photo: TUM