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Factors influencing the early development of world-class Caribbean track and field athletes: a qualitative investigation.

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journal contribution
posted on 2019-01-01, 00:00 authored by Candy ThomasCandy Thomas, Tim ChambersTim Chambers, Luana MainLuana Main, Paul Gastin
This qualitative investigation sought to explore through a socio­cultural lens the perceived early training and competition envi­ronment, and support network of world-class Caribbean track and field athletes and the influence on their sport engagement and pro­gression during early childhood and adolescence. Sixteen world­class track and field athletes (8 males and 8 females; M age = 29, SD = 5 years) from 6 English-speaking Caribbean islands took part in semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis was per­formed on the transcribed data. Three superordinate themes were identified as key factors that influenced the early sporting devel­opment of world-class Caribbean athletes: (1) conducive sporting environment, (2) functional social support network, and (3) key organizational input. Findings revealed that perceived high levels of deliberate play activity in childhood (6 - 12 years) and an in­tense track and field competition culture in adolescence (13 - 20 years) were conducive to the continued engagement and progres­sion of world-class Caribbean track and field athletes at the junior level. Furthermore, world-class athletes perceived themselves to be positively influenced by the support received from their imme­diate social support network and key organizations during this pe­riod. This study showed that a conducive sporting environment coupled with optimal social and organizational support may have encouraged world-class Caribbean athletes to remain engaged in track and field and to successfully progress within the sport at the junior level. Findings shed light on the sporting culture at the jun­ior level within the Caribbean region and provide insight into key environmental factors that can influence and foster the develop­ment of future World Champions and Olympians.

History

Journal

Journal of sports science and medicine

Volume

18

Pagination

758 - 771

Publisher

University of Uludag

Location

Bursa, Turkey

ISSN

1303-2968

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2019, Journal of Sports Science and Medicine