Talent development and ecology of practice in a professional club

Abstract

This study attempts to explore sports participation, dominant relationships and contextual influences in a professional environment through the perspective of social actors within the club. Participant observation, semi-structured interviews alongside with a field diary were the instruments used to assess how the interpersonal context, competitive environment and the organisational structure impact on youth sports participation. This study has demonstrated a twofold reality, how weak organisation and good coaching create a climate that has direct implications on youth sports participation. Indeed, results show that youth competitive climate and the search for status recognition, desire and uncertainty of professionalisation are the main characteristics of this environment. Researchers also acknowledged the fact that the main relationships carried out in these environments are the coach-athlete dyad in a way to foster a more pronounced mastery climate. Coach and parents are important positive assets in talent development, as well as the overall organisation. Significant others perceive the athletes’ competitive and professional disposition to train, to compete and to be in a constant search for sport performance. These results suggest new avenues of research in the way of youth sports talent management and the search for sports contextual change agents. Implications for applied practitioners and researchers are explored.