SOMARATNE ET AL. ENHANCING THE SELECTION CRITERIA AND ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL PNCTM; VOL3, JAN 2014

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1 Enhancing the Selection Criteria and Achievement Level in Sri Lankan Sports G.T.U.V. Somaratne, N.T. Nugaliyadda, N.G. Sarangika, M.C. Amarasinghe, C. Kahandawarachchi and S. Thelijjagoda Abstract Majority of people in the world actively involves in sports as a career, a leisure time activity and a fitness maintaining technique. Comparing to other developing countries, Sri Lankan sports achievements are not at an adequate level. Similarly, the participation of Sri Lankans in sports related events is insufficient since Sri Lanka is listed as one of the countries with lower participation in various sports events. Due to many reasons sports have been given low priority in a Sri Lankan s life. The purpose of this research is to increase the interest in sports within the Sri Lankan community by allowing more citizens to participate in sports, which will ultimately increase the performance and achievements of the Sri Lankan athletes, since sports play a major role in maintaining an individual s mental and physical fitness. Information for the research was gathered using questionnaires to identify selection criteria used in those institutions as well as the opinions that the participants had on Sri Lankan Sports. From the responses received, it was evident that the procedures followed in selecting Sri Lankan athletes are not at an effective level. A scientific procedure was developed using specific criteria on selecting athletes. The introduced procedure will increase the performance level of Sri Lankan athletes. This will also give athletes a clear understanding of the selection procedures. As the overall outcome, this research will increase Sri Lankan participation in sports; creating mentally and physically balanced citizens who will boost the Sri Lankan economy and development. Keywords selection criteria, poor participation, scientific approach, fitness, achievement level I. INTRODUCTION Presently sports are considered as an important academic discipline by many academics in Sri Lanka [1]. The research project is based on the background of the sports industry in Sri Lanka and procedures followed in selections for various sports activities. Basically the research focuses upon providing solutions to enhance sports achievements and participation. A. Research Problem When considering the number of achievements which Sri Lanka has achieved so far in the sports arena, it s considerably poor with related to other developing countries. As to the studies of the research group one of the main reasons behind poor sports achievements is mainly due to the lack of established methods or systems to identify and support sports skills of Sri Lankan citizens. B. Research Objectives This research focuses on finding out the main reasons for poor achievement levels in sports in Sri Lanka and the solutions to overcome them. The main objective of this research is to introduce a solution to analyze the sports skills in school level in order to fulfill the existing gap in identifying high skilled students in Sri Lanka. To achieve the main objective following sub objectives were derived; to study the background of the sports industry, to identify sport skills analysis methods in Sri Lanka, to identify the problems related to the existing sport skills analysis methods used in Sri Lanka, to suggest effective methods/solutions to overcome problems and to select and provide the most G.T.U.V. Somaratne, N.T. Nugaliyadda, N.G. Sarangika, M.C. Amarasinghe, C. Kahandawarachchi and S. Thelijjagoda; are with the Department of Information Management, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology. ( upeka1990@hotmail.com, nugaliyadde@yahoo.com, atgs143@yahoo.com, 40 amarasinghemalsha@gmail.com, chathurangika.k@sliit.lk and samantha.t@ sliit.lk) effective solution utilizing Information Technology. C. Significance of the Research This improves the standard of sports and will motivate the population to participate in sports. The effective selection procedure will ultimately increase the sports achievements and increase Sri Lanka s status. It will lead to economic development while developing a healthy community within Sri Lanka. II. LITERATURE REVIEW According to the findings of previous literature on this area, the most traditional way of making selections for sports activities were done based on a natural approach. Most of the traditional sport skills analysis techniques identified as talented at an early stage based on discrete, genetically driven performance measures [2]. With time Talent Identification (TI) models came in to play. The TI initiatives were underpinned with scientific theory and evidence. Therefore the results of such skill analytical techniques were acceptable to a certain extent. One of the main drawbacks of such solutions was lack of consideration on skill development [2], [3]. Thereafter Talent Identification and Development models were introduced which have the capability to provide guidance in developing the potentiality in addition to the capability of identifying skills of sport participants [2], [3]. Currently most of the developed countries which are performing well within the sport dimension are using latest technology such as Expert Systems and Decision Support Systems to make sporting decisions [5], [12]. As an example the Australian Government introduced Talent Search ; a Talent Identification and Development program to make sporting decisions. This system has been developed throughout the past 25 years. Presently they perform well within the sports arena due to the capability

2 of identifying talented and high performance sport participants by evaluating their physical fitness level, amount of training and the current performance level. As a result Australia obtained higher achievements in the 2000 Olympics [11]. collected by means of past literature studies, journal articles etc. Thereafter the validity of the dependent and independent variables of the conceptual model were measured against the results obtained from the survey conducted using a number of participants in sports related Fig 1: Conceptual Framework Even at present Sri Lanka is using a natural approach to select sports candidates, which is not at all effective. Therefore the participation and achievements of Sri Lankans result to be at a lower state. Over the time several talent identification tests and methods have been used to measure the performance and skills of athletes. The sport skills evaluations and talent identifications are done through using one or a combination of criteria for their analysis [13]. According to findings the criteria which are applicable to the Sri Lankan context are standard physical and fitness tests, training, anthropological characteristics, facilities, talents, psychological and life style factors. At the same time the validity of each of the above factors were measured and discussed in methodology and in data analysis. III. METHODOLOGY The research philosophy was developed depending on the knowledge gathered from the background study and literature review. The research problem was based on the current gap of unavailability of sport skills analysis process which was identified by analyzing the relevant literature on sport skills analysis processes in other countries. Through the literature review the researchers identified the dependent, independent variables and the relationships between them and derived a conceptual model for sport skills analysis. The research was initiated with a thorough observation on current sports achievements and selection methods in Sri Lanka. Further quantitative and qualitative data were gathered. The primary data was collected through interviews, observations and questionnaires. The secondary data was 41 entities in Sri Lanka such as schools, universities, sports clubs and the Ministry of Sports in Sri Lanka. IV. THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH As an approach to data analysis, the research team came up with a conceptual framework to evaluate the sport skills of Sri Lankans based on a set of variables which were identified through the literature review. The data analysis was conducted based on the data collected through a survey by which the applicability and strength of each dependent variable of the conceptual framework were tested. According to figure 1 the attributes covered under data analysis were respectively: standardized physical fitness tests, training, anthropology, facilities, talents, psychology and life style. A. Standardised Physical Fitness Tests The Current natural procedure for athletes does not include a standardised physical test unless they are in the national level. The national level athletes are guided under internationally accepted standards. Though it is recommended that the tests must be done twice a year it is not being done even for the national level athletes. In order to support Sri Lankan athletes it is necessary to follow this kind of standardised testing procedure. There are different test requirements for each event in athletics. For the national level athletes these fitness test results maintained by the Institute of Sports Medicine and the performance results maintained by the Department of the Sports Development are compared to select athletes for certain competitions [6], [7]. The athletes will be directed

3 to improvements based on the physical fitness test results. They will not be allowed to participate in competitions unless they attain a good level of fitness. Athletes who maintain a higher level of fitness will be selected to local and international competitions. This process will eliminate many issues that occur regarding the selection procedure. However we can see that it is not followed as planned. The standards maintained only at the national level is not effective. It must be conducted from school level to every student in order to maintain better status. Such testing done for entire population will be beneficial for individuals to maintain their fitness and to cope with health issues. The figure 2 shows the requirement of a standardised physical fitness test for everyone. 11% 89 % Yes No Some of the coaches and sports teachers conduct training sessions using their own methods without even considering about national level policies in training and practice sessions. The overall findings of the level of training and level of the knowledge of the teaching personnel on different sports were identified as ineffective in Sri Lanka when compared with other nations. It is vital to have a scientific approach for selections in order to improve the sport skills. It was found that there is no proper standardized method to improve the level of training and knowledge on physical education in Sri Lanka. Therefore it is vital to improve such areas in order to deviate from the current situation of poor sports achievements as a nation. C. Anthropological Characteristics Anthropometry can be defined as the measurements of the size and proposition of the human body, as an aid for comparative study in physical anthropology [8]. Most of the previous literature on this field has limited their focus on studying physical attributes of sport participants due to constant variations in such characteristics [2]. In Sri Lankan context anthropology was considered in conducting fitness tests for national level athletes. As per the findings of the data analysis 24% of schools, 8% of universities and 9% of sports clubs consider the anthropometry of sport participants in making selections which is shown in figure 3. Fig 2: Would you prefer if a certificate is issued witnessing the physical fitness level of an individual twice per year? B. Training High quality training is essential to reach a peak in sport skills. Maximum level of performance will not be attained automatically as a function of extended experience, rather it can be attained as a function of deliberate practice to improve the current level of performance [2]. This explains the current situation of the level of training and knowledge level on physical education which would contribute to improve achievements in sports in Sri Lanka. The most important conditions to be considered are the amount of practice required, knowledge and experience in conducting physical tests and different training methods, efficacy of conducting physical education and training programs. Amount of time allocated for trainings on weekly basis; i. School Program: Majority of the sample (24%) had allocated 40 minutes per week ii. University, sports clubs programs: 50% of the sample had allocated 1 hour - 3 hours per week Fig 1 : Criteria for Sports Selection The possible conclusion that can be derived through the way in which the sample has responded is that the anthropometry or physical characteristics of an individual are not sufficient in determining the sport skills of an athlete. Since most of the schools make selections for various competitions during a student s pre- maturation stage (within the age limits of years) most of the anthropometric characteristics (height, weight, BMI etc.) acquired by the students would change dramatically with the maturation process. Therefore selections should not be done based on the anthropometry of an individual. The rate of knowledge and experience of coaches, Physical Training Instructors and sports in-charge personnel in conducting physical tests in Sri Lankan schools, 33% had responded as below average. When it comes to the university and sports clubs level 50% of coaching personal had a moderate level of knowledge and experience in conducting physical tests and different training methods. The common problem identified during the data D. Facilities analysis was the unawareness and absence of proper Sports facility is one of the significant variables that is training methods for different sports events in Sri Lanka. essential for participation. The availability, adequacy, 42 Fig 2 : Rate of Response for Psychological Considerations

4 Rate of Responses % SOMARATNE ET AL. ENHANCING THE SELECTION CRITERIA AND ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL PNCTM; VOL3, JAN 2014 standards, funding, maintenance, supervision, safety, location and accessibility of sports facilities deserve sufficient attention to contribute to the excellence in sports participation. Quality and quantity of the resources matter mostly in developing sport skills of athletes. In Sri Lanka level of participation in sports is relatively high among the facilitated group. Therefore, sufficient and constant resources and effective control mechanism should be provided in order to achieve further heights in sports. E. Talents An individual s talent is considered as a criterion to be identified in the early stages of his sports career. Problems exist in identifying the talents and the standards which are being recommended. After identifying the talents they must be developed; therefore standards are required in order to do effective talent identification and development. The dynamic nature of these two aspects also makes it difficult to maintain a certain standard [10]. Though talent is gifted for some individuals it should be developed in order to achieve its best performance. Therefore it has become crucial for future development and for a sustained sport status. In other countries TID systems are being used to manage the talent identification and development but the quality of it is essential for a better outcome [4]. When it comes to Sri Lanka according to figure 3 there is no separate method to identify the talent. The selection for a sport is done either by past experience or physical attributes. The athletes will be directed to certain events and they will be trained. They may have poor performance since their talent is for another type of event. But according to the current process it is difficult to identify an individual s talent. Therefore certain standards must be followed in order to have an effective TID process. There are TID systems in the modern era which can be considered to a certain extent. Those measurements focus on goals, resources, opportunities and obligations rather than depending only on the outcome of the TID system. F. Psychology Sport psychology involves the study of how psychological factors affect performance and how participation in sport and exercise affect psychological and physical factors [9]. It was found that psychobehavioral factors are the key facilitators in developing skills acquired by individuals to world class standards. But minimum emphasis has been placed on such factors in majority of existing TID models [2]. According to figure 4, only 40% of Sri Lankan schools are aware of and maintain the psychology of students participating in sports whereas the rate of universities and sports clubs involved in maintaining the psychology of sport participants account to be 13% to 25% respectively. The possible conclusion is, the necessity for all parties to involve in selecting and nurturing sport participants to giving more priority to understand and develop the mental ability of individuals as a way of identifying their talents and developing them to a perceived standard level. As a 43 solution the relevant parties could provide free counselling and development programs to improve the cognitive capability of sport participants. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Maintains the psychology Doesn't maintain the psychology Categorization of Respondents Fig 3 : Rate of Response for Psychological Considerations G. Lifestyle To promote sports participation athletes physical condition, technical, tactical and mental skills matter. Athletes nutrition level, environmental encouragement and parental support are significant factors that matter in maintaining a successful lifestyle. Fig 4 : Nutrition Level Considerations When considering the nutritional requisites, sports persons need more energy to carry out their sporting activities effectively. Maintaining a strong and healthy athletic performance is more than just a matter of training and practising. Figure 5 shows how Sri Lankan schools, universities and sports clubs conduct nutrition programmes for athletes. But those programs are not in line with the standards provided by the Ministry of Sports in Sri Lanka. H. Political and Government Influence Sri Lanka is a country with a strong political background and as a result it has permeated every aspect of the Sri Lankan society including the sports industry. The influence of politics has created great impact on the sports industry positively as well as negatively. Governmental support can be considered as a vital factor in sports, since government would be the authorized body to make necessary policies and procedures to develop sports within Sri Lanka by forming new facilities and

5 supplying equipment where necessary, funding for trainings and nutrition, providing sponsorships and scholarships for higher attainments. The negative impact of politics on sports would be mainly due to the political influences in making selections for certain sports to represent national or international sport competitions. There is a high possibility for many talented sport personnel to be rejected due to their apolitical background. Therefore there is higher demand for sports ethics. Sport ethics would provide guidelines on addressing a range of misappropriations prevailing among the current sports background in Sri Lanka. V. CONCLUSION The main focus of this research is to study the current Sports industry in Sri Lanka, to identify the reasons for poor sports participation and achievements. A number of previous literature related to this field of study were reviewed in order to identify the global aspects related to sports. The background of current Sri Lankan Sports Industry was thoroughly studied by conducting a survey and identified the ways in which schools, universities and sports clubs in Sri Lanka conduct and practise sports. Several reasons for poor participation in sports and achievements were identified and the most prominent issue identified was mainly the absence of a standardized sports selection criterion within Sri Lanka. The conceptual framework depicts an approach to establish a scientific selection criterion within Sri Lanka. The seven dependent variables of the conceptual framework were identified to have a significant influence on the selection criteria. The strength of all the dependent variables were measured against the results derived through the analysis. Depending on the findings of the research, the group has recommended a selection criterion to make selections for various sports competitions in Sri Lanka. REFERENCES [1] Namali Suraweera. Need of Establishing National Sports Information Centre in Sri Lanka. in Proc. 11th International Conference on Sri Lanka Studies, [2] Angela Abbott et al, Talent Identification and Development: An Academic Review. Edinburgh: sportscotland, [3] Angela Abbott et al, Unnatural Selection: Talent Identification and Development in Sport. Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology & Life Sciences, pp , [4] Vladan Papić, Nenad Rogulj and Vladimir Pleština. Expert System for Identification of Sport Talents: Idea, Implementation and Results, in Expert Systems for Human, Materials and Automation, Prof. PetricăVizureanu, Ed. Croatia :InTech, [5] Nenad Rogulj, Vladan Papić and Vladimir Pleština. Development of the Expert System for Sport Talents Detection. in Proc. 7th WSEAS International Conference on Automation & Information,2006,pp [6] DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS DEVELOPMENT Internet: sportsmin.gov.lk/main/index.php/departments-andinstitutions/department-of-sports-development, [2013, November 5]. [7] INSTITUTE OF SPORTS MEDICINE Internet: gov.lk/main/index.php/departments-andinstitutions/institute-of-sportsmedic ine, [20 13, November 5]. [8] The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Internet: com /anthropometry, [2013, October 22]. [9] The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Internet: dictionary.com/ Sport+ psychology, [2013, October 23]. [10] Alfred Rütten & Heiko Ziemainz. Looking to the future: Analysis of Talent Identification and Development Systems in Different Countries in Proc. International Forum on Elite Sport. [11]Joseph Baker, Jörg Schorer and Steve Cobley, Development of Talent Identification Programs at a System-Wide Level. in Talent Identification and Development : The Evolution of Australia s National Program Jason Gulbin,1st ed., Ed. New York: Routledge. [12] John Zeleznikow, Clare MacMahon and Tristan Barnett. Providing Automated Decisions Support for Elite Athletes. in Proc. 7th International Symposium of Computer Science in Sport, 2009, pp [13]Parul Kumar. What are the ways of Talent Identification in Sports? Internet: ication-in-sports.html, [2013, February 23]. [] 44