The state program "Talent Search - Talent Promotion" (Hessian Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs & Landessportbund Hessen e.V., 2006) aims to promote the next generation of competitive athletes in Hesse in an educationally responsible manner. The focus is on cooperation between the participating schools, sports clubs and professional associations. The strategic further development of the state program envisages the establishment of talent bases by the professional associations in the future, which will be involved in the promotion of young talent in regional talent centers under the leadership of partner schools of competitive sports (Creutzburg & Scheid, 2014). In this context, the extent to which associations and clubs use the state program and adapt their support structures has not yet been clarified.

As part of an evaluation study (2016-2018), the IfSS at the University of Kassel is focusing on the role of professional associations, taking into account the following guiding questions:

1. What structures, resources and concepts do the selected professional associations and clubs have at their disposal in order to be successfully involved in the state program "Talent Search - Talent Promotion"?
2. How do these professional associations and their clubs succeed in establishing suitable talent bases in selected model regions and in successfully continuing the dual careers of the students supported in the state program (E and D squad support)?

The study focuses on two projected talent centers in Central Hesse, in which six professional associations (basketball, soccer, handball, athletics, swimming, gymnastics) are involved. Different groups of actors on the state and regional level are taken into account. The topic-oriented structural analysis is based on a document analysis of the current structural concepts of the professional associations, which were supplemented by guideline-supported expert interviews with association representatives. With the help of the data, coordinations of action can be presented and examined (Holzer, 2006, p. 34 ff.). The overarching themes and problems identified in the process will serve as the basis for evaluating the design of talent centers in the second phase of the project.