Workshop Description

The workshop will explore how we can look at talent development in a radically different way. A way that places the young person at the centre of the process so that the talent experience is beneficial for all. The core of the workshop will be to introduce the idea of Excellence Literacy, a new model for talent development. EL is built from the thinking of a wide range of writers, practitioners and researchers who share the belief that current approaches are failing many young athletes. It will challenge coaches and practitioners to reflect on their purpose in being involved in talent development and how their practice might change to create more holistic people development environments in sport.

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

Understand the core principles of Excellence Literacy and how it offers a new, people-centered approach to talent development.

Reflect on their own role and purpose within the talent development system, and how their values align with their current practice.

Recognize the limitations of traditional talent pathways and how these can impact the well-being and long-term growth of young athletes.

Explore practical ways to create more holistic, inclusive, and ethical environments that prioritize the development of the whole person, not just performance.

Meet the speaker

Andy Borrie

University of Derby, UK & AHB Consultancy Ltd, UK

Andy has thirty years of experience as an applied practitioner in high performance sport. In that time he has filled multiple roles as an applied sport scientist, performance manager and NGB Board member. In his earlier career he worked as a consultant on a wide range of Olympic and non-Olympic performance programmes and supported the preparation of athletes and coaches for over 100 international test series, tours or major games. More recently Andy spent 12 years leading the suite of talent programmes at Loughborough University before moving on a diverse range of projects aimed at enhancing practitioner development in sport, the military and education.

Emily Ryall

University of Gloucestershire, UK

Emily is a Reader in Applied Philosophy with particular interest in the philosophy of sport and sport ethics. She has been delivering and co-designing the BASES workshop on Professional and Research Ethics for over 10 years and has regularly spoken and written about a range of ethical issues in sport in national and international media. She advises sports organisations about ethical governance and is a member of a several ethics and integrity advisory committees.