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Talent management at a higher level

2020. September 30, Wednesday 15:00 | Scientific background

A recognized specialist, dr. Levente Rácz joins the professional staff of the National Academy of Handball (NEKA) as a senior fitness coach. In the interview with him, the head of the Department of Kinesiology and the Department of Human Kinesiology of the University of Physical Education highlighted: considers his new role a serious responsibility and to make the conditions for talent management based on objective measurements more effective.

Dr. Levente Rácz will not be a stranger to the environment in Balatonboglár, as his relations with the leaders and specialists of the academy have been excellent for years.

“Indeed, we have been discussing with Tamás Mocsai for a long time about how I could get professionally involved in the activities, and actually connect with the members of the sports science group, and with the fitness coaches, most of whom I know personally, as they were either my students or my former colleagues. I have arrived as a senior fitness coach; I think we do have the respect necessary in both directions that can make this job effective.

“What led to the decision to become involved in the work of the National Academy of Handball in addition to your duties at the University of Physical Education?

“I could follow the concept of NEKA right from the beginning, over the years we have been in constant consultation with Rector Lajos Mocsai, so there was a clear convergence between the construction of the sports science department of the Academy and the development of the University of Physical Education, as these two must point in the same direction. My mission from the outset has always been talent development and talent management, I have experience in this field, since I have been working in top-level sports since 1994, I have students from the age of seven to thirty-five. At the academy, there are plenty of opportunities for feedback, that is, nurturing talent based on objective measurements. I think that nowhere else can one look into the background activities and to connect it all to the professional work to such extent in Hungary today as it is possible to be done at the National Academy of Handball.

How does it look like in practice, what can be the biggest challenge? 

“I look at this task primarily as a responsibility, in all areas. This includes the most effective communication possible between different groups, a work schedule tailored to the needs of the industry, and the content with which we support them. The long-term goal at NEKA is a training and development programme, at the end of which the capabilities of players should be developed as much as possible so that they can live up to the expectations of the top division as well as in the international arena. This needs to be harmonised with day-to-day challenges and requirements when it comes to being successful in tournaments. This is a serious task, I think it also requires real overview, assistance and objective data,so that this does not upend the balance, none of the goals is compromised, and young athletes develop while maintaining their physical integrity. In the amazing influx of information available today, it is difficult for fitness coaches to incorporate knowledge from a credible source into the NEKA system, which we have developed to suit individual needs and local conditions.

 

“How do the departments collaborate, what is being given the highest attention?

“Good communication is key. Human kinesiologists are a kind of bridge between science and the practitioners, the appropriate language and filtered data are important, for which we add expert opinions. I think it is important not to flood coaches with a set of data, but to back up key information with measured values and give direction or prepare a suggestion based on that. Based on this, the particular professional then makes his or her own decision, supplementing the big picture with this information. In collaboration with the sports science team, we would also like to further develop the testing system so that what we measure responds to practical problems, as well as being accurate, feedbackable, and effective in aiding development.

“What is the direction the sport is heading into now, what requirements should the ideal handball player of today meet?

“Handball is based on a very complex system of abilities, so if there is a gap in anything, it can be compensated with other abilities. Based on their experience, professional coaches will obviously tell you what a perfect player should look like, but I want to look even deeper into, for example, nerve-muscle coordination, or how we can compensate for height deficiencies with dynamic leg strength. I always say let us take a look at our particular players and see what can be brought out of them. It is hard to imagine all students succeeding at the highest level, but we should train them to succeed as much as possible; this will show the strength and the knowledge of an academy. I see that the education of the entire personality, in a complex way, for a specific purpose can be fulfilled here at NEKA, with such professionals, with this background.”

 

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