ELITE ATHLETE’S PROFILE                                                     "From Youth to High Performance"                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Marcos Pizzorno, MSc TEACHING-LEARNING When sport is geared towards performance, the individual must undergo complex processes of adaptation in relation to the factors affecting this performance. This fact constitutes the essence of the preparation for competition in each sport. Success depends largely on the individual's adaptability and perseverance in the effort and self-motivation that this process demands. High   performance athletes are part of a small and priviledge population of empowered, consistent and self-confident individuals, and that is the reason why we must never submit heterogeneous subjects to such efforts, indiscriminately (1/10000 realy make it) Before deciding to embrace a high performance career, it’s important to make sure the significance of this choice, the effort and determination and the mindset for such commitment. The requirement for this purpose is large. Teaching-learning processes associated with the acquisition of sports techniques must be produced with great precision. Also the technical, technological and scientific support needed along with training methods and means, are of a great importance. The choice of appropiate teaching models during the learning process constitutes the basements to meet the demands for such tasks. Important aspects to consider are: - Information Processing and Sports Technique. - The Perceptual Motor Cycle - Development of Care oriented and Optimized Sports Actions - Attention to details and Motor Control - Anticipation process and Sports Actions - Types of Anticipation - Factors influencing the Anticipation In order to drive are purpose correctly, it’s necessary to answer a few questions regarding the complexity of an ideal teaching-learning system that will develop and shape the way from youth to high performance: a- What’s my purpose in life? In sports? b- Is it the right moment? Am I ready to make a career out of sports? c- Am I mature enough to make all sacrifices needed in order to achieve my dreams? d- Am I physilogically, psychologically, emotionally and physically ready to accept this challenge? e- Do I have the self-motivation and self-confidence to do it? f- Do I have support and structure? (access to human and material resources to fullfil my needs) g- Etc.. DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS ELITES A few years ago it was widely believed that those who were able to reach an elite sport career were the ones “born” for it (and not made or educated for) Only genetically given individuals would become champions after all. For the rest, even with all the care, effort and will put into practice and training, it would be impossible to make it. True or false..? The development of training systems and greater commitment from athletes, began to show how       “not genetically gifted individuals” through hard work, focus and tenacity, managed to get away with top-line results. Today, Elite Sports is a Controled and Planned Process for all kinds of disciplines (individual and team sports) A good example is Spanish growth in Olympic and Professional Sports, the “switching point or paradigm” of Barcelona 92 'and what it meant for the development of a national system. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT (Here begins to chart the Elite Athlete Profile) The hard work that involves a high performance ahtlete’s life, must be subject to a favorable atmosphere and environment, having access to a wide range of possibilities to make that life bearable, and to ensure all those efforts will not be in vain. We must take into account: The Sportsman Life Environment and the Sportsman Training Environment. - Sportsman Life Environment: Is what affects the athlete as a person and has an impact on training and performance. Focus on considering the athlete in all its human dimension, the affectivity, self-esteem and motivation they need. Also, Conditions of Life, Emotional Stability, Social Recognition, and Future Prospects to define. - Sportsman Training Environment: Working and structure conditions, means and resources are the fundamentals to achieve the goals. That gives the athlete: Sufficient dedication to training, Technical Support to High Level, Biomedical and Scientific Support, Technology Support and Adequate Infraestructure and Equipment. PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE OF THE ELITE ATHLETE It is an exceptional person with a very favorable genetic dotation to perform in a specific sport discipline, only able to reach that status after a long and laborius process which involves making great efforts and facing difficulties. To be an elite athlete it takes a great mindset and positive mental attitude, as you need to be better in order to beat your colleagues. Must meet a number of conditions that lead him/her far above Normality Statistics to be part of the selective group of “champions”. WHAT DETERMINES THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS TALENTS ? Genetics, Tolerance to Effort with huge Training Loads, environment and behavior of the athlete. In order to complement these factors he/she needs to meet three(3) conditions: Morphological (anthropometric measurements, hight, weight, etc) Biological (fibertype, Capacity of Methabolic Adaptation to effort) and Psychic (mental strength, anxiety, stress, frustration, intelligence, motivation, willpower, self-control and decision making) High Performance athletes develop a great sense of accountability, long-term development and patience, self-motivation and self-esteem especially when representing his/her country in International Competitions, in order to obtain “glory” and personal realization. Also, learning to enjoy suffering and muscle pain due to huge training loads, and build the strong character to reach perfection. But if there is something that makes one athlete consistently different from the rest is: Personal Conduct and Management of the Emotions. The responses to fear and danger depend on the degree of development of the personality and temper of the athlete. In competition, emotions exceed far in intensity the daily life relations, and also have an important social value. The possibility of being recognized for their accomplishments affect their status as an athlete in society Results in competitions always have particular personal impact, and constitutes a factor that creates extraordinary emotional statements which can provide both positive and/or negative influence on the development process. FEATURES OF A HIGH PERFORMANCE ATHLETE’S PROFILE: Curiosity and Intelligence, Restless mind, competitive and perfectionist, talent with work capacity, dedication and unlimited submission to work. Sense of duty, responsibility and sacrifice. Tenacity, constant motivation and enthusiasm in the search of results. Easy caption and execution of instructions. Capacity of making decisions and immediately problem solving. Consistency and reasoning when facing arguments. Great capacity of emotional recovery from frustration. Ability to analize adverse situations. Ambition and Determination. Awareness of organizational needs as Planning and Periodization of Training. Realizing the need to find optimal times for sport, personal and family moments. Optimistic and reasonable regarding Sport and life changes and challenges. Temperamental but reflective. Sensible and mature. “We coaches, are the ones in charge of providing the necessary and optimal feedback and resources for every occasion, interpret the need of their efforts in terms of improved performance for competitions, and happiness in post-performance life”.