Time to focus on identifying youngsters with potential<\/p>\n
Sports consultant Hans Peter Thumm began working with the
\nDirectorate of Sports Affairs on sports development, particularly
\nin the field of athletics, in 2003 as part of a cooperation
\nprogram with the government of Germany. With the program
\ndissolved at the end of March, the German spoke to The Jakarta
\nPost's Moch. N. Kurniawan about the need to put in place a system
\nto identify youth with athletic potential, if Indonesia is
\nsincere about regaining its position as a regional sporting
\npowerhouse.<\/p>\n
With a population of 215 million, Indonesia clearly has the
\npotential to triumph in sports, but its recent results have been
\nunimpressive.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, which dominated the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in
\nthe 1980s and early 1990s, failed to finish atop the medal
\nstandings at the last three events.<\/p>\n
A quick glance shows that declining achievements in athletics
\nand swimming -- offering more than 20 golds respectively -- were
\nmainly responsible for the decline.<\/p>\n
In athletics, the country has not been able to produce new,
\ntalented athletes since the 1990s.<\/p>\n
During my visits to various provinces, I noticed that only a
\nfew young athletes took part in athletic competitions. I was left
\nwondering why young people were reluctant to run, and what were
\nthe athletics organizations doing to find new talent.<\/p>\n
Confirmation of the decline came at the 2004 National Games in
\nPalembang, where a relatively low number of junior athletes
\nparticipated.<\/p>\n
I found that the National Sports Council (KONI) and the
\nIndonesian Athletics Association (PASI) have been unable to
\ndetermine a suitable and strategic solution in finding and
\npromoting athletes in a vast geographic area.<\/p>\n
The lack of facilities, equipment, modern literature, an
\nadequate curricula and chances for sport teachers and coaches to
\nupgrade their skills all contribute to the problem.<\/p>\n
Amid such unfavorable conditions, what is the likelihood of
\nfinding the athletically gifted in the still mostly rural
\nheartland of Indonesia?<\/p>\n
Must Indonesia wait until it finishes last in Southeast Asian
\nathletics before trying to solve the problem?<\/p>\n
The deficiencies are in contrast to Indonesia's neighbors:
\nThailand has an excellent scouting system to the National Sports
\nSchool in Bangkok, Malaysia has established its outstanding Bukit
\nJalil Center and Vietnam is home to an impressive network of
\nsports centers.<\/p>\n
In recognizing Indonesia's potential as well as the problems
\naffecting its development, Germany tried to assist through a
\n"talent identification system" project in Papua.<\/p>\n
The easternmost province, home to 2.2 million people, was
\nchosen as the model because of its athletic achievements at the
\nlocal and national level.<\/p>\n
With a natural lifestyle, the Papuans have been able to
\nmaintain their unique motor potential very well, contributing to
\ntheir prowess as track and field athletes.<\/p>\n
The talent identification system basically consists of the
\nfollowing steps:
\n* Formation of an organizing committee (10 people);
\n* Education of local organizers about all aspects of
\nidentification and the organization of the test (43);
\n* Education of local teachers\/testers (503);
\n* Talent identification of 4,000 students at elementary and
\njunior high schools in Papua, including a period of evaluation of
\nthe basic potential;
\n* Education of specific "talent identification coaches";
\n* Organization of the Papua Cup as a competition for new,
\ntalented athletes.<\/p>\n
Talent identification gauges the predicted body height and
\nspeed ability, ascertains whether there is a high level of
\nphysical elasticity as well as the absence of orthopedic
\nanomalies.<\/p>\n
It is followed by a series of test-exercises, such as the
\nmeasurement of body height, the rapidity of start following an
\nacoustic signal, five throws with tennis balls and three
\nsuccessive frog-jumps.<\/p>\n
Of course, all this is only the starting point. There should
\nbe a broader system that continues to support and promote the
\nathletes in their careers -- something still absent in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The athletes should undergo one to two years of a
\ndecentralized basic training program, then they must qualify for
\nthe school sport centers (PPLP).<\/p>\n
PPLP will improve the performance of qualified athletes
\nthrough an extended basic training program which takes their
\nindividual potential into consideration.<\/p>\n
The final stage will determine whether the athletes will
\ncontinue to train at PPLP until 19 years old, transfer to
\nuniversity sports centers or train under special coaches for
\nfurther improvement and specialization.<\/p>\n
With the talent identification system now finished in Papua,
\nit is now up to Indonesians to continue the program to find
\ntomorrow's world beaters.<\/p>\n
It will take commitment and hard work. The reward will be that
\nthe present mediocre results at international competitions will
\nbecome a thing of the past.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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