In this wide-ranging book Michael Seibold critically examines and assesses how Talent
Identification and Development (TID) programmes for tennis are organised and implemented. He
compares the views of key actors involved in TID practice: players coaches administrators
and parents in four selected European countries. Seibold s study is based upon a
multi-disciplinary and comparative research design using both quantitative and qualitative
research strategies. The results show large gaps between theory and practice of TID indicating
that tennis is likely to remain a socially exclusive sport and to become even more so within
the next few years and will remain limited to children from families with above-average
financial backgrounds. Michael Seibold suggests that environmental factors should form a part
of every TID programme. Any TID must be looked upon as an ongoing longitudinal dynamical
process. A centrally operating talent development commission following clear published
guidelines is of crucial importance. Seibold's book gives a real inside view into the TID
programmes in tennis from the point of view of an expert who has been working many years as a
national and international tennis coach and as sports expert as part of the International
Olympic Committee s Olympic Solidarity Programme. It will help the reader to understand more
about TID in tennis in general and support coaches parents players and administrators in
developing and optimising a programme to support and evolve their future talents.
