Sports Talent Identification and Development Programmes in Secondary Schools in Rivers State

Systematic sports talent identification in secondary schools is a foundational strategy for developing the national athlete pipeline and ensuring that gifted young athletes receive appropriate development opportunities. This study examines the structure, implementation, and effectiveness of sports talent identification and development programmes in public and private secondary schools in Rivers State, South South Nigeria. A mixed-methods design was adopted, with 25 schools, 40 physical education teachers, and 15 state sports officials participating in structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Programme documentation was reviewed against established talent identification best practice frameworks. Findings reveal that formal talent identification protocols are absent in 84 percent of sampled schools, with talent recognition based predominantly on teacher observation and performance in local competitions rather than standardised assessment. Collaborative pathways linking school talent identification to state sports council development academies are weak and inconsistently applied. Private schools demonstrate stronger individual sport development programmes, particularly in athletics and swimming, while public schools show greater football participation but limited structured development progression. Promising athletes frequently lack financial support to access higher-level competitions and coaching. Recommendations include developing a state-level school sports talent identification framework, establishing school-to-state council talent development pathways, training physical education teachers in basic talent identification methods, and creating bursary schemes for talented athletes from low-income households. Keywords: talent identification, sports development, secondary schools, Rivers State, athlete development