Strategic approach to the development of high-performance sport in the Republic of Croatia

The aim of this paper is to examine a realistic strategic approach to further develop high-performance sport in Croatia. The methodology used involved an analysis of the data collected in questionnaires administered to national sport federations concerning coaches and other high-performance sport indicators. Selection and development of talent, sport schools and sport clubs, technology of sports preparation, coaches and other professional staff,organisation of sport activities on the local, regional and national levels, material and technical requirements, funding in sport, international cooperation and scientific and research activity were analysed. The most important findings of this analysis are: the selection of future athletes in Croatia is not conducted in a scientific, evidence-based manner, the programme of universal sport school established by Croatian School Sport Federation was attended by 6,712 students and it included 156 PE teachers, coaches lack understanding of the technology to be used when working with young athletes as oppose to the one used on adult high-performance athletes, there are only 11,500 coaches in sport clubs, i.e. approximately only 2.3 coaches per a sport club, total annual revenue of the sport system in Republic of Croatia is approximately about HRK 2.5 billion, public sources account for about 55 % of total revenues in sport, whereas households contribute with another 45 %. Due to this information’s, strategic goals are defined.