Seeing Double? A Practice-Based Investigation Into Twins Experiences of Sporting Talent Development

Abstract

Although there is an established body of research on twins within the wider social science domain, scarce attention has been applied to this relationship within sport coaching practice. Specifically, this is apparent during talent development, despite a growing empirical interest toward the developmental impact of age-gapped siblings on sporting success. Accordingly, this study explored potential mechanisms through which the twin relationship may impact on talent development. Longitudinal observation of two twin sets (one monozygotic and one dizygotic) took place within a U.K. regional hockey performance center training environment. Observations were used to inform semistructured interviews with twins and their parents, which facilitated the interpretation of observations and exploration of the relationship, before a codebook thematic analysis was conducted. Findings revealed several themes (regularity of interaction, emotional interpersonal skills, rivalry, skill development, communication, and type of separation) consistent with previous studies, alongside two new themes; namely, conflict and identity. The study highlights the complex and individualized nature of the sibling subsystem, illuminating the possible impact of twin type on several themes, and highlights the potential for observations as a practice-based tool for coaches to consider when individualizing the talent development process.

The Role of Siblings in Talent Development: Implications for Sport Psychologists and Coaches

“…Several studies have considered the role of siblings across sport participation (i.e., participation, development, and performance), suggesting that siblings can have a meaningful influence on an athlete in both a positive and negative way (Côté, 1999 ; Davis and Meyer, 2008 ; Blazo et al, 2014 ; Trussell, 2014 ; Hopwood et al, 2015 ; Allbaugh et al, 2016 ; Nelson and Strachan, 2017 ; Osai and Whiteman, 2017 ; Taylor et al, 2017 , 2018 , 2021 ). Reflecting this polar influence, an initial retrospective study by Côté ( 1999 ) investigated the historical family dynamics of four 18-year old elite junior level athletes throughout their developmental years.…”

“…Recently, Taylor et al ( 2017 , 2018 , 2021 ) advanced the study of siblings and TD by tracking athletes across meaningful timeframes and at relevant ages. Initial investigation retrospectively explored the impact of siblings from retired athletes who had competed at the Olympic Games, World Championships or professionally.…”

“…Data highlighted the perceived importance, and holistic role of siblings during development (Taylor et al, 2017 ). Consequently, further qualitative study tracked junior athletes (aged 8–16 years) longitudinally during the TD process, combining data from the siblings with parent perceptions to encapsulate the wider family interpretation of the process (Taylor et al, 2018 , 2021 ). All three studies by Taylor and colleagues outlined a number of characteristics perceived to be positive mechanisms for TD, which supported and expanded on the findings from previous studies (see Table 1 ).…”

“…Such an example acknowledges how siblings can create contexts that support the biopsychosocial development of an athlete. Empirically, Taylor et al ( 2017 , 2018 , 2021 ) identified relationship characteristics that exemplify how holistic development can take place. In addition to the work of Taylor and colleagues, Davis and Meyer ( 2008 ) suggested that the motivations some siblings gain from being compared can fuel an increase in both physical and mental training workload.…”

“…As Taylor et al ( 2018 , 2021 ) highlight, it is important to be cautious when considering the role of siblings in supporting TD. As such, there is increasing evidence showing the difference in the nature, and importance, of specific characteristics both within, and across, sibling dyads (Fraser-Thomas et al, 2008 ; Taylor et al, 2018 ; Warmenhoven et al, 2020 ).…”