Athletic hopes rest on Papua project<\/p>\n
According to Hans Peter Thumm, the Papua project is a six-
\nmonth scheme consisting of three main activities of talent
\nidentification, talent selection and talent promotion, which
\ntargets students between the ages of 13 and 14 years.<\/p>\n
The scheme is applied in seven steps, beginning with a general
\nintroduction of the talent identification system to local
\nresources, such as teachers and relevant agency officials,
\nfollowed by a regional education program for testers.<\/p>\n
The first two steps have been conducted and involved 450
\nteachers from Jayapura, Sentani, Kirung, Biak, Serui, Sorong,
\nMerauke, Wamena, Puncak Jaya and Timika.<\/p>\n
The project is now preparing to enter the third and crucial
\nstep: testing 5,000 students in the 10 areas across Papua.<\/p>\n
The screening procedure includes general flexibility, macro
\ncoordination, acceleration, throwing accuracy, vertical power,
\nhorizontal power and endurance.<\/p>\n
"Only those who meet the required points will advance to the
\nnext step," Thumm said.<\/p>\n
The fourth step involves a three-day camp for qualified
\nstudents, during which a maximum of 150 students will be selected
\nfor advancement to the sixth step: a long-term basic training
\nprogram at the local Education and Training Center for Students
\n(PPLP).<\/p>\n
The intervening fifth step introduces the basic training
\nprogram to PPLP coaches and select regional coaches.<\/p>\n
The training will focus on developing basic skills in the high
\njump, pole vault and javelin throw, refined skills in sprinting,
\nhurdling, ball throw with approach run, long jump preparation,
\ndiscus and shot put.<\/p>\n
It also includes psychological aspects such as motivational
\nskills, self-discipline and stress management.<\/p>\n
The project's seventh step is a competition to assess the
\nperformance of the 150 young athletes, comprising six events: the
\nlong jump, high jump, hurdles, pole vault, short-distance run and
\nlong-distance run, 800m for boys and 600m for girls.<\/p>\n
"Unlike what PASI used to do, we will hold the competition
\nafter the selection," Thumm said, referring to the Indonesian
\nAmateur Athletics Association.<\/p>\n
He said accepting students who excelled in track and field as
\nnew recruits usually ended up with a problem: in three years,
\nunselected students turned out to be better athletes. "It's a
\nfifty-fifty chance in selecting talents through competitions."<\/p>\n
The pilot project in Papua applies a systematic testing and
\nrecruitment scheme that involves as many participants as
\npossible, which produced a greater chance of identifying more of
\nthe right kind of young athletes, he said.<\/p>\n
Physical attributes, such as height, could also be predicted
\nusing simple calculations, as the new recruits were still
\ngrowing.<\/p>\n
"We can use the scientific method of measuring the physical
\ncharacteristics of athletes' parents and calculate their
\npredicted full-grown height," he said, adding that the specific
\ngrowth stage of a student would be indicated in an X-ray of their
\nbone structure. "It's simple and easy."<\/p>\n
If this pilot project was successful, Thumm was optimistic
\nthat it be held again the following year and additional young,
\ntalented athletes would be discovered toward the national
\ndevelopment of track and field. -- Zakki P. Hakim<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/athletic-hopes-rest-on-papua-project-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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