Clarifying TID and TD in sport: an integrative phase-based framework of talent assessment and promotion

Research on Talent Identification (TID), and Talent Development (TD) in sport has produced a diverse body of theoretical frameworks, empirical findings, and practice-oriented models addressing different aspects of long-term athlete development. While these contributions have substantially advanced understanding of talent-related processes, they vary in their conceptual focus, level of analysis, and use of phase terminology. As a result, empirical findings are often difficult to compare systematically and to situate clearly within the overall process. The present paper proposes an integrative, phase-based framework for Talent Identification and Development that aims to support clearer conceptual alignment between assessment and promotion across the pathway from talent detection to talent verification. Drawing on insights from sport science, developmental psychology, and established diagnostic and developmental models, the framework distinguishes five interconnected phases: talent detection, talent orientation, talent identification, talent selection, and talent verification. Across all phases, assessment and promotion are conceptualized as parallel and continuously interacting dimensions rather than as sequential steps. A central feature of the framework is its explicit consideration of the phase-specific meaning of talent and the changing relevance of assessment-related characteristics and promotion priorities over time. The framework emphasizes that predictive validity is inherently phase-dependent and provides a structured basis for situating empirical findings within their appropriate developmental context. Rather than offering prescriptive solutions or new predictors of future performance, the framework integrates existing theoretical, empirical, and practice-oriented approaches into a coherent process structure. The proposed framework has implications for both research and practice. For research, it offers a reference system that supports phase-sensitive interpretation of findings and encourages longitudinal, context-aware, and person-centered approaches to studying talent development. For practice, it provides a conceptual tool for reflecting on the alignment between assessment decisions and promotion structures within talent systems. Overall, the framework seeks to contribute to a more coherent, developmentally informed, and integrative understanding of talent assessment and promotion in sport.