ABSTRACT
Recognising the dynamic and non-linear nature of talent development, in this chapter we suggest that it is sensible for practitioners and stakeholders in talent development to consider the mechanisms that underpin progression and transfer in, and between, sporting activities as a primary focus of their practice. Throughout this chapter we discuss the importance of focusing on the development, deployment, and refinement of psychomotor and psycho-behavioural skills, the building blocks of development, during the early stages of the athletic pathway. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of introducing and developing the Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence (PCDEs). Throughout the chapter, evidence and exemplars of how PCDEs have been implemented in applied settings are provided.
