Elite Youth Gaelic Footballers And Their Holistic Development: The Academy Experience

Introduction / Purpose The aim of this study was to map the ecology of the holistic talent development environment in elite Gaelic football academies in Ireland. In so doing, this study seeks to clarify the roles and... [ view full abstract ]

Introduction / Purpose

The aim of this study was to map the ecology of the holistic talent development environment in elite Gaelic football academies in Ireland. In so doing, this study seeks to clarify the roles and functions of key components of the academy and to investigate how these components interact to support elite youth Gaelic footballer development. This study advances our understanding of how to both create and regulate high performance organisational cultures within elite sport settings. (Cruickshank & Collins, 2012).  

Research Methods

Using a multiple case study framework; data were collected from stakeholders of talent development environments in six sites across Ireland. Within each case, stakeholders included administrators, coaches, parents, teachers and players. Multiple data collection tools were crystallised (Richardson, 2000) to try to attain data trustworthiness: semi-structured interviews, focus groups, fieldwork observations and a researcher reflective journal. Data were analysed systematically and thematically using a six level grounded theory approach (Harry, Sturges and Klinger, 2005)

Results

Results from this project indicate that while the Gaelic football academy aspired to deliver key components of successful development environments they were not attaining this goal. Specific issues were identified in relation to organisational culture and the lack of integration of efforts of the various stakeholders. Because of this, youth athletes (a) did not develop positive psychosocial skills.  (b) struggled to cope with the demands placed upon them by coaches and (c) had difficulties with trying to balance sport and school. As a result of these aspects, academy athletes became producers of their own positive personal development.