Abstract
The experiences of youth athletes on specialized talent development pathways has received considerable attention in both the media and literature. Despite the low conversion of pathway entrants into senior athletes, the experiences of deselected athletes have received less attention. The purpose of this study therefore was to explore the talent pathway experiences of youth athletes who were deselected from a pathway and to consider how those experiences influenced their life post deselection. Ten participants were purposefully sampled based on their prior involvement in a formalized and selective talent programme. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data was analyzed via a thematic analysis. Participants identified constructs of the talent development environment, psychobehavioral skills for future development and personal responsibility for future development as facilitators for future success beyond the talent pathway. Specifically, environmental constructs, such as high performance support systems and expectations of professionalism positively contributed toward the acquisition of transferable psychobehavioral skills, such as a determination to be successful, a confidence to back oneself and social maturity. Youth athletes reported feeling empowered to take personal responsibility for development, through attributes such as a commitment to be the best they can be and an intrinsic motivation to succeed. These findings suggest positive experiences, built around the development of transferable skills and behaviors, can accrue from being on the talent pathway. As such, the talent pathway can be a successful foundation for both success in that sport and as a facilitator of success beyond sport.
Highlights
The pattern of selection onto, and deselection out of, talent pathways sheds light on the volatile nature of development and success in youth sport environments
The participants in this study were, at least at that moment in their career, disappointed about deselection, they all were able to reflect on how their experiences on the talent pathway provided them with a rich learning experience that benefited them beyond youth sport
The participants noted how their early experiences in a formalized talent pathway enabled them to develop a tool box of psychobehavioral skills that supported their transitions to new environments following deselection
Summary
The pattern of selection onto, and deselection out of, talent pathways sheds light on the volatile nature of development and success in youth sport environments. 76% of players competing at a national level as 13 year olds did not compete nationally at under 18 (Durandt et al, 2011) This data highlights the challenging journey that youth athletes take on the road to senior success and the low probability of achieving “elite” senior performance. It may be that the talent pathway can provide a positive, and developmentally appropriate experience for youth athletes irrespective of whether they reach elite status, or not This is a complex picture and the literature has highlighted how high performing youth soccer players can experience psychological distress immediately following deselection (Blakelock et al, 2016), while authors have proposed the importance of programmes of support to accommodate for the risks of mental health disorders in deselected elite student-athletes (Brand et al, 2013). Given the considerable resources that are invested in young athletes, it seems pertinent, not least to key stakeholders such as parents, coaches, and the athletes themselves, to ensure that the development experience is positive and beneficial in the long term for as many athletes as possible
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