Background
Research
Back to 1997 first research on youth talent development in soccer was performed at Ghent University, department of Movement and Sports Science, research group Biomechanics, led by Prof. Dr. Matthieu Lenoir.
Based in these insight and further studies the Flemish Government initiated a broader research from 2007 till 2011 to build a talent identification and sports orientation tool, finally named in 2015 “the Flemish SportKompas”. This research derived in many research publications and Phd’s until now.
- 1997 — De jeugdvoetballer beter begeleiden! Ghent Youth Soccer Project. Renaat Philippaerts, Roel Vaeyens, Dominique Cauwelier, Jan Bourgois & Jacques Vrijens
- 2007 — Talent identification and selection in youth soccer: contribution from the perceptual-cognitive domain in a multidisciplinary model. Roel Vaeyens
- 2009 — Contribution of maturation, anthropometric and physical performance measureas in talent detection and identification in youth handball players: a cross-sectional study. Hasan Saad Mohamed
- 2011 — The contribution of motor coordination to sports participation in school-aged children and to talent identification in young female gymnasts. Barbara Vandorpe
- 2012 — Talent identification development and selection in youth handball players. Stijn Matthys
- 2012 — The contribution of physical fitness, motor coordination and involvement in sports to motor and talent development in soccer. Joric Vandendriessche
- 2013 — Pathways to successful sports involvement in children and adolescents: from motor competence development to a specialisation-diversification trade-off. Job Fransen
- 2015 — Anthropometrical, physical fitness and maturational characteristics in youth soccer : methodological issues and a longitudinal approach to talent identification and development. Dieter Deprez
- 2015 — From sports orientation to elite performance prediction. Johan Pion
- 2019 — R. Norjali Wazir
- 2021 — M. Mostaert
- 2022 — F. Laureys
Key contributors
The research of Prof. Dr. Johan Pion was a break through where the motivational part “I LIKE” was added to a standard test battery of the physical tests “I DO”.
Key contributors of SportKompas at Ghent University:
Prof. Dr. Johan Pion
Prof. Dr. Leen Haerens
Product Development
In 2018, the non-profit organization SportaMundi was created by social entrepreneur Bruno D’Hulster and Kristof De Mey from Ghent University. With funding of the Flemish Government, SportaMundi could develop SportKompas as a scalable product, accessible for schools and cities, to reach “every” child.
Key contributors of the product development:
Founders of SportaMundi
Bruno D’Hulster
- social entrepreneur
Kristof De Mey
- valorisation manager Victoris, Phd, Ghent University
Bart Chanet
- digital platform lead architect
Jo Stubbe
- development and support
Designer & Digital Platform development
DottAchilles
Hylyght
Expansion
As from 2021, Sport Vlaanderen has taken over the promotion, organization and further expansion of SportKompas in Flanders via schools and cities. The aim is to finally reach every child, in primary and secondary schools.
SportaMundi and Hylyght are further expanding SportKompas internationally. Look at our Partners and Blogs page to learn more about our international partners and projects.