The relationship between life and social timing of sports talents: a study with track and field athletes of the state of Paraná

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of life background and sports experience on the different developing stages of track and field athletic talents in the state of Paraná. The sample was composed by 38 subjects, comprising athletes, family, coaches, directors and sports secretary. Person-process-context-time bioecological paradigm (Bronfenbrenner, 1995) was used as model. Informant’s pad, interviews, researcher’s diary and other documents provided the data which were interpreted through categorial content analysis. The results demonstrated that the great majority of the athletic talents were born between 1970 and 1974, initiated their training at the age of 14.9 reaching their apex at the age of 20.9. These data were strongly influenced by the sports stimulating programs established and implemented by the state government from 1983 to 1990. The athletes began their sports practice at the expected age, but choosing their own athletic specialties at different ages. The survey of the life and social background revealed that the 8-to-11-year-old beginners intended just to play at the age of 12-16 they intended to travel and that from the age of 16 to 20 the training results appeared and reached their apex. It may be concluded that the developing trajectory of athletic talent is a continuous process dependent on a long-term training and an appropriate administrative structure. The evidences demonstrated that talent is a personal competence attained in the world of sports with a close relationship between social and life timing at the different stages of athlete’s development.