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Research has increasingly focused on the environmental features within talent and performance development settings. However, practitioner perspectives on their role in optimizing these environments are scarce. This study aimed to examine practitioner perspectives of the role of the environment, specifically, how they plan, deliver and review (p-D-R) to optimize environmental conditions for athletes. Ten sports practitioners (including managers, coaches and multidisciplinary support staff) took part in semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis and generated themes associated with Planning (Conceptualization, Planning and Meeting Athlete's Needs), Delivering (Explicit, Implicit, Support, Communication, Holistic Approach) and Reviewing (KPIs, Evaluation & Monitoring, Rolling Review, Review Process). Findings suggest that to offer the best possible experiences to participants, practitioners must have a clear view of their objectives and involve all stakeholders associated with delivery at the planning stage. Much of the delivery aspect aligned with notions of effective TDEs suggesting practitioners had a clear awareness of what works for them in their contexts. Reviewing the environment appeared to be the activity practitioners undertook the least, this may reflect the complex and dynamic nature of the environment in sports settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talent Development Environments (TDEs) aim to provide the appropriate conditions for youth athletes to realise their full sporting potential. How TDEs are designed and operated is therefore of great importance for the development of elite athletes. Stakeholders are vital in this process, yet their perspectives are poorly understood. This study assessed the quality of TDEs across 5 European countries, comparing athlete, parent and coach perceptions. A total of 571 athletes (Mean age = 15.2 ± 1.5 years), 759 parents and 134 coaches were recruited from TDEs across 27 sports. Participants completed the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire-5 or adapted versions. Overall, perceptions of European TDEs were positive. Coaches reported higher perceptions of TDE quality compared to athletes and parents, athletes reported marginally higher perceptions compared to parents. Across stakeholders, Long-Term Development was highest rated, followed by Communication. Support Network was lowest rated. Stakeholder perceptions varied most for the Holistic Quality Preparation subscale, highlighting perceived differences in TDE support for rounded athlete development. From an organisational perspective, identified strengths and weaknesses provide direction to coach and parent education. Practically, TDE leaders should consider how they can refine stakeholder coordination through integrating stakeholder perceptions as valuable feedback into their environment, especially for intangible factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored UK female football players' perceptions of their talent development environments using the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire. Participants were 137 UK-based female football players (Mage = 16.06, SD = 1.90) from Football Association Girls' Centres of Excellence and Football Association Women's Super League Development Squads. Players had most positive perceptions of long-term development focus and support network, whereas the least positive perceptions were of communication and understanding the athlete. Sport psychologists could offer significant support in (a) planning for football-specific development and career progression, (b) communication with key social agents, and (c) holistic player development and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:High-risk sports participants have typically been viewed as a homogeneous group despite variability in performance characteristics and the level of risk undertaken. Prolonged engagement high-risk sports such as winter climbing are relatively underserved within current literature. Elite winter climbers attempt climbs that are outside the scope of the current “known”, i.e. unclimbed routes. The majority of the current understanding of motivation in high-risk sports is based on quantitative research and the methodologies and instruments used. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of elite winter climbers and gain a richer understanding of their motivational orientation and risk-taking behaviour.Design:Qualitative–inductive.Method:Four elite male winter climbers (aged 42–49 years old) took part in semi-structured interviews and explore their motivational orientation and risk-taking behaviour. A thematic analysis was used.Results:Two superordinate themes of enactive mastery and engendered disinhibition emerged from the data. Enactive mastery was interpreted as a composite of two higher-order themes: Task mastery and self-mastery. Engendered disinhibition was interpreted as a composite of two higher-order themes: Social cognitive appraisal and self-perception.Conclusion:Enactive mastery and engendered disinhibition emerged as key behavioural and psychological determinants that influenced individuals to attempt more difficult and riskier forms of winter climbing. Goal achievement was their primary motive which was set within a confidence frame encapsulated within these superordinate themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To advance the literature on talent development within elite female athletes, this study investigated the developmental experiences of elite youth female soccer players. We adopted an interpretive approach where four players (Mage = 16.75) were initially interviewed to gain a retrospective understanding of their development as soccer players. Subsequent fieldwork and further interviews were used to gain a current and prospective understanding of their development as players. Data were subjected to an inductive analysis, composite sequence analysis and a collaborative member checking process to co-construct a sequential, developmental understanding of the players' experiences within elite youth soccer. The findings suggested that the soccer experience of fathers and/or older brothers played a significant role in the players' development. Soccer fathers were able to provide advice and guidance specific to the needs of their daughter-player at different age ranges whilst at the same time reinforcing the importance of coach–player relationships. Soccer brothers acted as either positive or negative models for their sister-players and served as a source of information about key career choices. Friends inside (termed as soccer friends) and outside (termed as non-soccer friends) soccer played a significant role in helping players to lead the disciplined lifestyle required of an elite youth soccer player. Finally, findings suggest that self-regulation and adaptive volitional behaviours appear to be key intra-individual factors associated with talent development in female soccer. These findings are considered in the light of previous talent development literature alongside directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]