The abstract and tables below are related to the conference poster presented at the British Psychological Society Sport and Exercise Annual Conference 2022. The full manuscript for research is currently under review with the Journal of Expertise.
Abstract
Challenging experiences appear to be an important element of the talent pathway with the potential to both derail and propel a young athletes’ progress. The purpose of this study was to examine how young athletes and their coaches experienced the most difficult challenges (self-identified by the young athletes) in the early years on a talent pathway in the United Kingdom. Eight young athletes (M age = 15.8, SD = 0.9 years) and five talent pathway coaches (M age = 35.6, SD = 5.9 years) were purposefully sampled from a range of sports based on their involvement at the phase of the talent pathway equivalent to the transition between specialising and investment years. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted at two time points separated by five months. Data was analysed via interpretative phenomenological analysis. In relation to the young athlete’s most difficult challenges, participants forecast their perception of the challenge and what lay ahead on the pathway. Participants reflected on the application of psychobehavioural skill for the challenge, the navigation of the challenge experience, the complexities of the challenge and the lessons learned through the experience in preparation for future challenges. Specifically, talent pathway coaches should be aware of the individuality and complexity of the challenge experience as interpreted by the youth athletes, more so than the type of challenge itself. In doing so, talent pathway coaches should support young athletes in the development of forecasting and reflection skills to aid in navigating challenging experiences.
Tables
Millfield Institute of Sport and Wellbeing 