Combat sports, towards a tactical purpose model of talent selection

Abstract

For more than half a century, the countries that dominate the Olympic medal standings have focused their efforts not only on optimizing athletic training but also on finding that superhuman subject that can endure and assimilate the rigors of sports training for an increasingly demanding competition. In this sense, the scientific models for the selection of potentially talented athletes take the lead, offering, through predictive performance tests, a more accurate vision of how an athlete could correspond to a particular sport activity. The objective of the present investigation is to design a tactical purpose model that contributes to selecting potentially talented athletes to perform in combat sports. For this purpose, we developed a tool that facilitates the methodological process for preparing the selection model in correspondence with the demands of the competition. Empirical methods such as document review, survey, criteria of specialists and users were mainly used, taking into account that in sport and especially combat sports due to its tactical purpose, the path to success is an integrated process.