Abstract
An exploration of psychosocial competencies in elite youth talent development environments
Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.26(Supplement 2), pp.S93-S93
Annual Conference of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), 2008 (Uxbridge, United Kingdom, 02-Sep-2008 - 04-Sep-2008)
2008
Abstract
Contemporary research literature within the field of youth talent development has unequivocally supported the notion for interactional or multi-dimensional perspectives, incorporating a number of influences under the concept of psychosocial competencies. Holt and Dunn (2004: Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 16, 199–214) devised a grounded theory of the psychosocial competencies associated with success in elite adolescent level soccer. The present study attempts to establish the transferability of Holt and Dunn’s grounded theory of psychosocial competencies across participants in a talent development environment (TDE) in a different sport, namely athletics. Participants were recruited through a structured TDE in the sport of athletics, numbering six athletes with an age range of 14–19 years. Leading on from this, selected parents (n¼4) and coaches (n¼2) were interviewed utilising a similar interview structure to enable triangulation of opinions on the effective requirements of TDEs, and how this corresponds with and validates Holt and Dunn’s grounded theory of psychosocial competencies across different sports. The sample of parents consisted of both mothers and fathers, to take into account findings by previous research indicating differences in type of social support provided by either parent. These data provided a triangulation as suggested by previous studies into social support processes. The design of the semi-structured interviews conducted with athletes, parents, and coaches was directly modelled around the four identified psychosocial competencies of commitment, discipline, resilience, and social support. Collected and transcribed data were subjected to a process of thematic analysis and examined for emerging themes establishing the general dimensions of the four key identified psychosocial competencies. Constructing the methodology in such a manner allows the findings to be a truly applicable representation of the original grounded theory and it’s generalisability across other sports and TDEs. Results provided support in the four areas of commitment, discipline, resilience, and social support, and a coherent development of the original grounded theory is proposed. Sport-specific differences within TDEs are addressed, particularly factors relating to either team-based or individual sports. The findings from participants are drawn together in relation to applied sport psychology implications, and the interactional nature of social support and athletes psychosocial competencies within TDEs. Directions for further research within the area are suggested.
Details
- Title
- An exploration of psychosocial competencies in elite youth talent development environments
- Authors
- M Swindells (Author) - University of Gloucestershire, United KingdomGeoff Lovell (Author) - University of Gloucestershire, United KingdomS Cotterill (Author) - University of Gloucestershire, United KingdomD Crone (Author) - University of Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
- Publication details
- Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.26(Supplement 2), pp.S93-S93
- Conference details
- Annual Conference of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), 2008 (Uxbridge, United Kingdom, 02-Sep-2008 - 04-Sep-2008)
- Publisher
- Routledge
- DOI
- 10.1080/02640410802306202
- ISSN
- 0264-0414
- Organisation Unit
- Tropical Forests & People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449842902621
- Output Type
- Abstract
Metrics
1 File views/ downloads
506 Record Views