Since its launch in May 2013, collaboration protocols have been established with all School Groups in the municipality of Guimarães, considering the target population (6 to 14 years old) who attend the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle of schooling.

Protocols were also signed with 15 clubs - Guimarães Skating Academy, AJKP - Portugal Youth Karate Association, CART - Taipense Recreational Activities Center, CCR Fermentões, Guimarães Tennis Club, Rope Skipping Club of Taipas, GD Unidos do Cano, GRUFC, Guimagym, JUNI, Moreirense FC, Taipas Athletics Center, Creixomil Pirates, Vitória SC and Xico Andebol

The modalities for carrying out the process of identifying talents were defined as those that could be practiced in a school context - handball, athletics, basketball, futsal, football, gymnastics, karate, swimming, skating, rugby, rope skipping, volleyball and tennis, and active in the respective clubs.

This program aims to discover athletes with high physical, technical and psychological qualities in different sports. The Sports Talent Detection Center also favors sportsmen who, even without revealing these attributes, have characteristics that can provide high performance in the future. The project is aimed exclusively at young people who are outside the sphere of clubs and a competitive federated framework.

The process

The process of identifying the athlete's sporting talent is carried out by the physical education teacher with the student. After a teacher detects in a child a special aptitude for the practice of a certain modality, the technical coordinator of the Sports Talent Detection Center (CDTD) goes to the educational institution to exchange views with the responsible teacher and make a second evaluation of the athlete. Even before approaching the student and the guardians, an opinion on the athlete's skills is requested by a technician specialized in the modality in question.
After entering the club, athletes are subject to an evaluation period that will last for a minimum of three months and a maximum of six (or until the end of the sports season). During this period, the free practice of sports is guaranteed. After the evaluation period, the sports association and / or club will decide whether or not to integrate the athlete within the club. Either during the integration phase in the club or later, the CDTD will permanently monitor the athlete, recording his evolution and the respective sporting path.

(Note: Seeking to respond to the limitations posed by the pandemic situation in our country, in the present academic year (2020/21) the CDTD will be articulated with the Descolar project (Sports Services - Tempo Livre) in the process of identifying and selecting sports talents).

Study on criteria for identifying sports talent (2018) - ongoing.

CDTD Coordinator - José Fidalgo Martins, Physical Education Teacher