Patterns of performance development in elite athletes

Abstract

This investigation sought to contrast generalised models of athlete development with the specific pathway trajectories and transitions experienced by 256 elite athletes across 27 different sports. All participants completed the National Athlete Development Survey and within it, the Athlete Development Triangle featuring the differentiation of junior and senior competition experience and progression. Developmental initiation; prevalence, magnitude and direction of pathway trajectory; extent of concurrent junior and senior competitive experience; and variability between sports were examined. Three major trajectories were identified in relation to athlete transition from Nil competition to Elite competition, via junior and senior competition phases. These included Pure ascent (16.4%), Mixed ascent (26.2%) and Mixed descent (57.4%). These were further partitioned into eight sub-trajectories, demonstrating a mix of linear, crossover and concurrent competition profiles. Substantial variability with regard to starting age, pattern of ascent and magnitude of transition was apparent. Non-linear trajectories were experienced by the majority of athletes (83.6%), with pure junior to senior developmental linearity evident in less than 7% of cases. Athletes in cgs sports (those measured in centimetres, grams or seconds) were less likely (43%) to experience a descending trajectory in comparison with non-cgs athletes (70%; p<0.001). The collective findings of this investigation demonstrate that, contrary to the popular pyramidal concept of athlete development, a single linear assault on expertise is rare, and that the common normative junior to senior competition transition is mostly characterised by complex oscillations featuring highly varied transitions. More developmental 'granularity' is needed to advance our understanding of sport expertise.

From childhood to senior professional football: elite youth players’ engagement in non-football activities

“…As 63% of the players in the present study reported to have participated in sports outside football and 37% only have participated in football, both pathways of the DMSP seem to be present within this elite group. However, such a dichotomous model does not necessarily reflect the athletes' individual variations in development or the underlying variables that could affect this development, because it is "likely that these variables can combine into a number of developmental pathways" (Ford & Williams, 2012, p. 349;Gulbin, Weissensteiner, Oldenziel, & Gagné, 2013). Such variables could include sports' similarities (Baker et al, 2003), number of hours spent in different activities , variation in the content of different activities (Ford et al, 2009) or the level at which an athlete practices and competes (Gulbin et al, 2013).…”

“…However, such a dichotomous model does not necessarily reflect the athletes' individual variations in development or the underlying variables that could affect this development, because it is "likely that these variables can combine into a number of developmental pathways" (Ford & Williams, 2012, p. 349;Gulbin, Weissensteiner, Oldenziel, & Gagné, 2013). Such variables could include sports' similarities (Baker et al, 2003), number of hours spent in different activities , variation in the content of different activities (Ford et al, 2009) or the level at which an athlete practices and competes (Gulbin et al, 2013). Through earlier studies on elite youth football players, for instance, the early engagement hypothesis emerged as an alternative pathway to the two originally included in the DMSP, to cover the large amount of time such players have spent in footballspecific play rather than multiple sports or deliberate practice (e.g., Ford et al, 2009).…”

“…By engaging in various activities, athletes could develop a wide basis of skills that both could contain transferable elements to other activities but also represent a "'movement vocabulary' which they can use as the basis for subsequent sport-specific development" (Abbott & Collins, 2004, p. 402; see also Gulbin et al, 2013). Consequently, early sport diversification may circumvent the need for some of the many hours of sport-specific practice needed to reach top levels of performance (Baker et al, 2003).…”

Time Course of Improvements in Power Characteristics in Elite Development Netball Players Entering a Full-Time Training Program

“…There was potential for the results from this study to show that competition periods could have a negative effect on physical development; however, the net gains of the training period still show substantial improvement. Gaining competition exposure for developing athletes is a key element of any high-performance sport's programme (20), it is important to consider a holistic approach to training where the inclusion of competition may have a positive effect on other elements of on-court performance, even if physical performance was temporarily affected. The net gain in sports performance is an important element for strength and conditioning professionals and sports coaches to consider when planning and administering any programme.…”

Quantitative analysis of sport development event legacy: an examination of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships

“…While the pyramid model has popular appeal, there has been no empirical testing that confirms its veracity. While the notion of sequential progression through the pyramid seems logical, it does not reflect reality (Green, 2005;Gulbin, Weissensteiner, Oldenziel, & Gagné, 2013), nor does it offer guidance for organisations in facilitating movement through the pyramid (Sotiriadou, Shilbury, & Quick, 2008).…”