Corresponding Author: Till Koopmann, M. Cite this article as: Koopmann, T. The Oldenburg observation sheet for Table Tennis Technique O3T as a tool for talent identification and development: a reliability, validity and feasibility study. International Journal of Racket Sports Science, 4 2 , Background: The assessment of technical skills as part of a multidimensional approach for talent identification and development in table tennis appears promising.
Bland-Altmanplots and ICCs showed sufficient general reliability with acceptable measurement errors. Finally, the O3T proved to be highly feasible with some possibility to improve based on a feasibility questionnaire.
In future, the O3T should be used by coaches in various talent contexts to further improve its design and to show its added value for talent activities. Furthermore, this approach could be transferred to other performance aspects and sports. Talent identification and development TID is one of the important pillars of increasing the chances of future international sporting success DeBosscher et al.
Consequently, many countries invest great amounts of resources in talent programs to identify, monitor and develop young and talented athletes Abernethy, ; Vaeyens et al. For this purpose, sports associations in cooperation with embedded sports scientists attempt to determine performance indicators that help to predict future success Baker et al.
It is suggested that specifically the sport-specific technical skills are of great importance within a multidimensional skill set to be able to reach the elite level in various sports due to their close relation to the highly demanding and specialized proficiencies required for elite performance Glazier, ; Kolman et al.
