Changing the Landscape of

Talent Search for Sports in

Schools – A KinderSports
Initiative
By KreedOn Team (https://www.kreedon.com/author/koadmin/) - November 6, 2018

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India is a young country with a population of over 1.2 billion. Then, how is it
that we produce only a handful number of Olympic medalists or never top
the medal tally for Asian, Commonwealth Games or any other international
event?

There are two main reasons for this. First, the attitude toward sports in our
country and secondly, the lack of timely talent identi�cation. While
changing the attitude of our country is a gradual process, timely talent
identi�cation is the need of the hour.
(https://www.kreedon.com/pro-kabaddi-2019/)

I m p o r t a n ce o f t a l e n t i d e n t i � c a t i o n
in India
Though we love Cricket, statistics (https://www.statista.com/statistics
/562694/india-regular-participation-in-sports-by-type/) show that the
average participation for all other sports (S
Sw i m m i n g , B a d m i n t o n , Cy c l i n g ,
R u n n i n g , Fo o t b a l l , Vo l l e y b a l l , Te n n i s , e t c ) is below 13%, while 42% of
our population participates in cricket. We don’t have to justify that how
many talents we have found in Cricket compared to other sports. Clearly,
there is a problem there. The increased level of participation is required to
get the right amount of talent for any sport.

The Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
said in an interview, “Transformational changes have been introduced into
Indian sports. Catch them young is no longer a slogan but is visible in our
action. We are developing a sports system that connects local potential to
global podiums that encourages every Indian to have sports as a part of
their lives for entertainment, education (https://www.kreedon.com/indian-
school-sports-by-kinder-sports/) or excellence.”

Image Source: activeforlife.com

Another crucial point is the lack of opportunities or support for those who
actually want to play professional sports. There are kids who display
excellent talent and skill at a young age. However, a small percentage of
these actually go on to compete at a professional level. Because they are
never identi�ed and nurtured to grow further. This is exactly why talent
identi�cation is important. It is the �rst thing which needs to be done to
(https://www.kreedon.com/pro-kabaddi-2019/)
change the scenario of Indian sports.
Let’s understand Talent
Identi�cation
Talent identi�cation is the process of identifying the skills and potential in a
young person and providing the right opportunities to showcase and better
those skills. And this process starts right in schools at a young age where
the person displays the talent and competitiveness among peers.

Image Source: connectedcoaches.org

To ease the process of talent identi�cation, competitive events for schools

are a great medium as it provides the young guns with a platform to
showcase the skills. Also, without zeroing in on a particular sport, a child
should be tested in various sports.

The performances in each sport should be duly analysed and accordingly, a

path for the child should be laid so that this early direction in life would
guide the child to excel in future. In India, there are numerous athletes who
made it big by the time they were teenagers. Reason? Early identi�cation
and nurturing.

S p o r t s m e n a n d wo m e n w h o
s t a r te d y o u n g
Abhinav Bindra was just 17 when he made his Olympic debut. His parents
built a shooting range so that he could practice whenever required. Of
course, not everyone can afford that, but identifying and supporting the
child is more important than anything else is.
(https://www.kreedon.com/pro-kabaddi-2019/)
 Image Source: The Hindu

Prithvi Shaw, an 18-year-old is creating ripples in the cricketing world with

his performance. He is touted as the mix of Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara
and Virender Sehwag by our current Indian coach, Ravi Shashtri.

10 years back, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar had quoted, “One day he
will play for India”. So much so for talent identi�cation. It was enough to
boost his morale and ones supporting him.

Image Source: AsiaNet

Consider the example of para-athlete Devendra Jhajharia. The �rst Indian

Paralympian to win two gold medals at the Paralympics was spotted at a
school event by Dronacharya Awardee coach R. D. Singh. Devendra was
simply participating in his school meet, but R.D.Singh identi�ed and
nurtured his talent. (https://www.kreedon.com/pro-kabaddi-2019/)
Talent Identi�cation: A genuin e
e f f o r t b y K i n d e rS p o r t s
Our country has the potential to produce many more versions of Abhinav
Bindra and Devendra Jhajhariya. And, efforts of K i n d e r S p o r t s
(https://www.kindersports.in/) are fueling this big mission.

Image Source: kindersports.in

KinderSports handpicks raw talent when they are in schools and groom the
aspirants to turn them into champions. The aim is to foster a lively sports
culture in schools that not only produces winners but also instils a sense of
discipline, team spirit, and awareness of �tness and good health.

In association with the Sports Authority of Gujarat, KinderSports has

started an exhaustive talent identi�cation program for both girls and boys
in Gujarat. It is working in 9 districts which are – Botad, Bharuch, Patan,
Dahod, Mahisagar, Aravalli, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Gandhinagar.

(https://www.kreedon.com/pro-kabaddi-2019/)
T h e s p o r t s e v e n t s a r e c o n d u c te d i n
d i f f e r e n t s c h o o l s i n t w o c a te g o r i e s :
Ca t e g o r y 1 | U n d e r – 9 : Eve n t s – 3 0 m R a c e a n d B ro a d J u m p
Ca t e g o r y 2 | U n d e r – 1 1 : E ve n t s – 5 0 m R a c e a n d B ro a d J u m p

The coaches organize these 4 events in each school. Out of these events,
16 boys and 16 girls are selected from each school under each category.
Once selected, these students are pushed further to participate at the
district and eventually state level. Coaches ensure that there are maximum
selections from their schools at the Taluka level. Coaches also take care of
their further training until they complete the state level.

Image Credits: KinderSports

Coaches help them to master techniques for broad jumps and other �eld
events. Simple tactics like a precise style of takeoff or the right bend of the
knee; makes a lot of difference during competitions. In racing, kids learn
things like how to hold their torso in the right angle, how to bend elbows at
90 degrees and other tips which help these students to make a mark.

The training is ef�ciently supported by analysis and recommendations.

Measurement of a broad jump is done from the start of the take off to the
touch of last body part on the ground. Race timings are captured using a
stopwatch. (https://www.kreedon.com/pro-kabaddi-2019/)
Q u i c k Fa c t – T h e b e s t a v e r a g e r a c e
t i m i n g s a m o n g c h i l d re n a re :
3 0 m Ra c e: U n d er 9 – arou n d 8 s ec s | U n d e r 1 1 – 5 - 7 s ec s
5 0 m Ra c e: U n d er 9 – arou n d 1 4 se c s | U n d e r 11 – aro u n d 11 s ec s

H ow t a l e n t i d e n t i � c a t i o n w i l l h e l p
In dia?
Talent identi�cation (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007
/978-1-4757-2510-0_1) in the age group of 8-12 years will lead to a
timely nurturing of talent. It will also broaden the pool of athletes in India.
Starting at an early age will keep the option of experimenting in varied
sports open for the athletes. Most importantly, the talent search for sports
will ensure that children from every nook and corner of the country get a
fair opportunity to pursue their dreams.

The future of the children in our country is in our hands. The generation is
grappling with issues like obesity, growing technology addiction, and other
issues. A more proactive involvement in sports is absolutely the need of the
hour.

Currently, KinderSports is af�liated with the Sports Authority of Gujarat

and serving 70+ schools in Gujarat and 15+ schools in Maharashtra.
Through such talent search initiatives, it hopes to bridge the gap between
talent and opportunities!

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 (https://www.kreedon.com/author/koadmin/)
KreedOn Team (https://www.kreedon.com/author/koadmin/)
We are a team of sports writers who research about sports in India day in day out.
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