Norwegian elite handball coaches’ perceptions of high-performance coaching and the development of talented handball players

The main aim of this study was to investigate elite handball coaches’ perceptions of their role as high performance coaches and their understanding of the talent development process. The study uses a qualitative approach through eight in-depth interviews of elite coaches, who possessed extensive experience as coaches (mean 23.5 years), at the national or international level. The thematic data analysis generated two main themes in terms of: the role as high performance coaches and the talent development process. The results showed that the coaches considered their role as a facilitator of development and highlighted their need for competence and dedication in their role. Further, coaches described that at the essence of their role was the coach-athlete relationship, and their investment in the players individual development and the environment they provided. They considered however, talent to be a complex concept and further highlighted that some players could compensate for a lack of certain skills and still perform at a high level. While stating the need for a broad approach in the identification process, they identified two factors of particular importance to become successful as a senior handball player, in terms of the “X-factor” and motivation. Overall, the study supported earlier research on talent identification and perceptions of the term talent, while also elaborating on how coaches consider their own role in the talent development process.