Talent Development in Paralympic Sport

Nima Dehghansai, Ph.D. is an athlete development specialist with Paralympics Australia. His research focuses on identifying factors that can influence the health of the pathway including athlete attraction, recruitment, development, and expertise. He is currently working alongside key Australian stakeholders on various strategies to optimize environments to maximize athlete development for sustained podium success. Ross A. Pinder, Ph.D. is an experienced skill acquisition specialist with Paralympics Australia, where he leads a team of sports scientists and applied researchers aiming to develop world-leading learning environments. Ross has supported elite coaches and athletes to achieve success at major international events, including the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, notably in Para Archery, Para Athletics, Para Cycling, Para Table Tennis, Wheelchair Tennis, and Wheelchair Rugby. He currently supervises several higher degree research students through national and international collaborations. Joe Baker, Ph.D. is a Professor and Head of the Lifespan Performance Laboratory in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, at York University, Canada. His research focuses on talent identification, skill acquisition, and athlete development. He also works with elite teams and organizations around the world to optimize athlete performance and development.

1. Talent Development Opportunities and Challenges in Paralympic Sport: An Introduction

2. Paralympic Pathways

Practitioner Commentary: Gail Hamomoto

3. Top-down Systemic Challenges to Current Paralympic Pathways

Practitioner Commentary: Andy Van Neutegem

4. Athlete Recruitment: Promoting Initial and Sustained Engagement in Para Sport

Practitioner Commentary: Michael Frogley

5. Understanding the Complexity of Athlete Selection in Paralympic Sport

Practitioner Commentary: Chris Wagg

6. The Role of Classification in Talent Identification and Development in Para Sports

Practitioner Commentary: Michael Woods

7. Striking a Balance: Promoting Quantity and Quality of Participation in Para Sport

Practitioner Commentary: Jenny Davey

8. The Role of Skill Acquisition in Coach and Athlete Development in Paralympic Sport

Practitioner Commentary: Raôul Oudejans

9. Talent Transfer in Paralympic Sport

Practitioner Commentary: Melissa Wilson

10. Coaching, Talent Identification and Talent Development in Para Sport: Developing the Field

Practitioner Commentary: Graeme Maw

11. Role of Technology in Athlete Assessment

Practitioner Commentary: David Haydon

12. Physiological Considerations for Para Athletes

Practitioner Commentary: Gary Brickley

13. The Psychology of Talent Development in Paralympic Sport: The Role of Personality

Practitioner Commentary: Hannah MacDougall

14. The Overemphasis on ‘Talent’ in Parasport Development

Practitioner Commentary: Raphael Moreira