Comprehensive Analysis of Factors Impacting Australian and Canadian Paralympic Sport Athletes' Development
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1
Comprehensive Analysis of
Factors Impacting Australian
and Canadian Paralympic Sport
Athletes’ Development2
This report has been developed from athletes’ responses to the
Developmental History of Athletes Questionnaire (DHAQ)
Report prepared by:
Dr. Nima Dehghansai
Athlete Development and Talent ID Specialist – Paralympics Australia
Dr. Ross Pinder
Skill Acquisition Specialist – Paralympics Australia
Professor Joe Baker
Athlete Development and Talent ID Expert – York University
Sponsors:
This study was sponsored by Paralympics Australia and the Canadian
Paralympic Committee.
Funders:
Paralympics Australia, Social Sciences and Humanities Research
Council (SSHRC) and Sport Canada (Sport Participation Research
Initiative, SPRI) financially supported the developments of this project.3
Contents
1. General Characteristics …….……. 4
2. Impairment-Related Information …….……. 4
3. Barriers & Facilitators …….……. 5
4. Resources …….……. 6
5. Milestone Trajectories …….……. 7
6. Other Organized Sports …….……. 9
7. Training History and Accolades …….……. 11
8. Final Summary …….……. 16
9. Questions, comments and future analyses …….……. 174
1. General Characteristics
A total of 143 male and 70 female athletes On average, athletes have competed in
from Australia (n=149) and Canada their sport for 12.2 years, with the lowest
(n=63) completed the survey. The experienced player reporting 1 years of
sample’s average age was 33.5. experience and 61 years for the most
experienced athlete.
The majority of the sample (n=152) During their career, 30 athletes moved due
competed at the international level, with to disability-related reasons (i.e., access to
the remaining athletes reporting rehab/accessible housing) while 39
experiences at national (n=38) and athletes moved due sport-related reasons
provincial/state (n=8) or local (n=5) levels. (i.e., availability of coaches/sport-specific
programs.
78 athletes were enrolled or completed
secondary school, and 130 either enrolled
or completed post-secondary schooling.
2. Impairment-Related Information
121 athletes acquired their impairment and Athletes were divided into groups based
the average onset of injury was 20.2 years on the onset of their impairment. The
old with the earliest injury occurring at 7 groups were aligned with biological
months old and oldest athlete obtained development categories.
their injury at 57 years of age.
Thse groups were: congenital, pre-adolescence (0.1
months to 11.9 years old), adolescence (12.0-17.9 years
old), early adulthood (18.0-24.9 years old), and adulthood
(25+ years old).
Spina
II Impairment Type Nature of Impairment
2%
Bifida 100
5% 80
Other Physical 60
VI
Disabilities
23% 40 82
4%
20 33 38 32
18
0
Amputation/
Limb 3. CP/ABI
Deficiency 13% SCI
17% 36%5
3. Barriers & Facilitators
Through friends, relatives, and family members (n=51)
Most
Rehabilitation Centers (n=44)
Common
Methods of
Talent Search Programs (n=16)
Introduction
to Para Sport Schools/Teachers/Councilors (n=15)
For enjoyment/fun (n=135)
To be competitive (n=115) Reasons for
Starting
For overall health benefits (n=115) Participation
in Para Sport
To socialize and meet new people (n=102)
Encouragement from family and friends (n=98)
High expenses associated with sport (i.e., equipment, registration, etc.)
Most (n=92)
Common Dependence on others (i.e., transportation, preparation, etc.) (n=74)
Initial
Barriers Disability related complications (n=72)
Lack of other athletes with disabilities (n=67)
The competitive environment (n=135)
Most
Sense of accomplishment (n=133) Common
Persisting
Continuous support from family, friends, and coaches(n=128) Facilitators
Desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle (n=116)
High expenses associated with sport (i.e., equipment, registration, etc.) (n=89)
Most
Common
High demands associated with the sport (i.e., training, competition, travel, etc.) (n=60)
Persisting
Barriers
Lack of advanced programs nearby (n=50)6
4. Resources
Average years athletes had access to the service 5.87
Personal Coach (n=92)
Average years athletes utilized the service 5.77
Perceived impact on development & performance 8.75
Access 6.39
Team Coach (n=139)
Utilized 6.35
Perceived Impact 7.70
Access 3.93
Psychologist (n=90) Utilized 3.08
Perceived Impact 5.65
Access 5.37
Physiotherapist (n=108) Utilized 4.71
Perceived Impact 6.70
Access 3.67
Skill Acquisition (n=55) Utilized 3.62
Perceived Impact 7.80
Access 3.29
Performance Analyst
Utilized 3.00
(n=65)
Perceived Impact 6.00
Access 4.07
Classification (n=74) Utilized 2.57
Perceived Impact 5.80
Access 2.66
Biomechanics (n=55) Utilized 2.24
Perceived Impact 5.34
Access 4.71
Medicine (n=61) Utilized 4.13
Perceived Impact 4.20
*Numbers highlighted in red indicate resources scoring highest on impact scale.
Most Accessible Resources Most Important to Performance &
Development
7 10
9
6 8
5 7
6
4 5
4
3 3
2 2
1
1 0
07
5. Milestone Trajectories
The graph below indicates the age each respective nature of impairment group reached sporting milestones.
45.00 C/PA/A/EA C/PA/A/EA
C/PA/A/EA C/PA/A/EA
Age Athletes Reached each Milestone
C/PA/A/EA C/PA/A/EA
40.00
C/PA/A/EA C/PA/A/EA C/PA/A/EA
C/A/EA C/PA/A
35.00 C/PA/A C/PA/A/EA
30.00 C
C/PA C C C C C C
C/A C C
C
25.00 C/PA
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
Milestones
C PA A EA AD
Note. = indicates AD group reached milestone at an older age in comparison to one or more group(s). = similarly, but for EA group, p8
Years until Each Milestone was Attained from the Point of Main Sport Entry for each Impairment Group.
C
International Debut
C/PA/EA
Leisure Time Devoted to MS
National Debut
C
State Debut
C
Stopped Involvement in OS
Milestones
C/PA/EA
Decided to Become Elite
1st Year-Round Training
C/PA
Idea of Elite Emerged
1st Supervised Practice
1st Unsupervised Practice
C
1st Non-Sport Specific Training
-2.00 -1.00 0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00
Year Difference Between Each Milestone and the Age First Main Participation was Reported
AD EA A PA C
Note. = indicates AD group attained milestone at a faster pace in comparison to one or more group(s). The comment box lists the groups
that these milestones were significantly different to.9
6. Other Organized Sports
Para Sports Able-Bodied Sports
80 out of 213 (36%) of athletes 99 out of 121 (82%) of athletes with acquired
participated in other Para sports than their impairment had experience in able-bodied
current primary Para sport at some point in sports prior to acquiring their impairments.
their careers.
On average, athletes’ careers lasted 8 years On average, athletes’ careers lasted 9.5- years,
and experiences here also ranged from and experiences ranged from recreational all
recreational to international level of the way to international level of competition.
competition.
Most common reported other sports were: Most common reported other sports were:
Soccer (n=32) Wheelchair Basketball (n=28)
Basketball (n=28) Para Athletics (n=17)
Athletics (n=23) Para Swimming (n=17)
We then examined the similarity between athletes’ current sport to the previous sports they had
experiences in. The majority of athletes had experiences in sports (both able-bodied and Para)
that were similar to their current sports.
Sports were organized into two different categories for analysis.
1st level analysis (simple): Individual vs. Team
2nd level analysis (expanded): Invasion, CGS, Target, Net/Wall
Next page contains graphs that display distribution of the similarity between athletes
experiences in other sports (both Paralympic and able-bodied) in comparison to their
current primary sport, both in the simple and expanded similarity type analyses.10
Simple Sport Types (Paralympic) Simple Sport Types (Able-bodied)
Similar (S),
12.63%
Similar (S),
Mix, 37.50% 28.75% Similar (M),
17.89%
Mix, 54.74%
Similar
(M), 7.50% Different (S),
4.21%
Different (M),
Different Different
10.53%
(M), 11.25% (S), 15.00%
Expanded Sport Types (Paralympic) Expanded Sport Types (Able-Bodied)
Similar (S),
10.53% Similar
(M), 4.21%
Similar (S),
21.25% Different (S),
Mix, 27.50% Similar (M), 13.68%
3.75%
Different (S), Mix, 54.74%
Different (M), 20.00% Different
27.50% (M),
16.84%11
7. Training History & Accolades
This total was generated from a combination of
5 types of training:
❖ Sport-Specific Training (SS)
❖ Physical Preparation (PP)
❖ Mental Preparation (MP)
❖ Informal Play (P)
On average, athletes devoted 6,406 ❖ Training Camps (TC)
hours to training during their career
Within each training type, athletes were also asked
to differentiate between the training settings. The
four settings consisted of:
❖ Train in groups, supervised (GS)
❖ Train in groups, unsupervised (GU)
❖ Train individually, supervised (IS)
❖ Train individually, unsupervised (IU)
Distribution of Hours per Training Type
Informal Play, 708, Camp, 128, 2%
10%
Mental
Practice, 664,
9%
Physical Preparation,
Sport-Specific, 4339,
1474, 20%
59%12
Distribution of Training Hours per Training Type in each Condition
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Sport-Specific Physical Preparation Mental Preparation Informal Play
In Groups, Supervised Individually, Supervised In Groups, Unsupervised Individually, Unsupervised13
The total hours devoted to each training type across the first seven years of athletes’ careers
(above) and the proportion of hours devoted to each training type for each year (below).
700.00
600.00
Total Hours Reported for Each Year
500.00
400.00
300.00
200.00
100.00
0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Years into Career
SS Total PP Total MP Total P Total TC Total
60%
Proportion of Total Practice for Each Year
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Years into Career
SS Total PP Total MP Total P Total TC Total
SS=Sport-specific, PP=Physical preparation, MP=Mental preparation, P=Play, TC=Training camp14
The proportion of total accumulated hours devoted to each training type (above) and each
condition within the training types.
AD
EA
A
PA
C
0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00% 100.00%
TC MP Total PP Total SS Total P Total
100.00% 100.00%
80.00% 80.00%
60.00% 60.00%
40.00% 40.00%
20.00% 20.00%
0.00% 0.00%
C PA A EA AD C PA A EA AD
SSGS SSGU SSIS SSIU PPGS PPGU PPIS PPIU
100.00% 100.00%
80.00% 80.00%
60.00% 60.00%
40.00% 40.00%
20.00% 20.00%
0.00% 0.00%
C PA A EA AD C PA A EA AD
MPGS MPGU MPIS MPIU PI PG
C=Congenital, PA=Pre-Adolescence, A=Adolescence, EA=Early Adulthood, AD=Adulthood
SS=Sport-specific, PP=Physical Preparation, MP=Mental Preparation, P=Play
GS=In groups, supervised, GU=In groups, unsupervised, IS=Individually, supervised, IU=Individually, unsupervised15
Summary of the Training Elements
Evidently, the majority of athletes’ training was devoted to
sport-specific training and more specifically, with coaches
and other athletes.
However, there were group differences (based on
impairment-onset). Each groups demonstrated a unique
preference to a set of conditions for each training type.
Mental preparation and to a degree physical preparation
mostly were reported taking place in unsupervised, alone
settings.
Athletes within this sample reported
31 international and 11
Paralympics/World Championship
gold medals.
27 international and 5
Paralympics/World Championship
silver medals.
26 international and 7
Paralympics/World Championship
bronze medals.16
8. Final Summary
Developmental Trajectories
1 Athletes with congenital or early
acquired impairment reached
milestones at a younger age,
however, athletes with late-onset
impairment advanced through the
milestones at a quicker pace.
Training
Athletes’ training was highly 2
focused on sport-specific training
and driven mainly by coaches.
There are variabilities between
groups regarding preferences to
training conditions.
Other Sports
3 There is a strong synergy
between athletes’ current sport
and previous sport they had
experiences in, both in able-
bodied and Para settings.
Resources
Some of the resources least 4
available to athletes were reported
as most impactful to their
development and performance
(i.e., skill acquisition, performance
analyst)17
9. Questions, comments and future analyses
Athletes with impairments acquired at different
stages of their careers demonstrated different
sporting trajectories (milestones, training profiles,
etc.). Athlete differences need to be considered
during recruitment and development stages as
athletes’ resource and support needs will vary.
How can we increase resources for athletes in areas such as
performance analysis and skill acquisition?
Takeaways from sport synergy:
❖ Are there sports that could consider a cross-training
program?
❖ What are elements that athletes utilize from
previous ‘similar’ sports that helps them with their
current sport development?
❖ Opportunities for multi-sport programs to support
athletes’ development early in their careers.
Your thoughts, comments and questions
1. What areas within the report do you consider important to explore with respect to your sport?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________.
2. What other elements outside of this report would you consider important to explore more in
depth (i.e., sibling and parental interactions, funding, etc.)?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________.18
If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to contact the research team at
Nima.Dehghansai@paralympic.org.au.
A manuscript containing in-depth analysis of the data presented here is currently in-print and will be
available online soon. At this time, please check with the research team for a copy of the manuscript.
In Phase II of this project, interviews with directors, coaches, and athletes were completed in order to
complement the quantitative measures taken in this questionnaire and provide a narrative to the data.
Summary of findings from Phase II can be found here.
We would like to take a moment to send our deepest appreciation and thank you to
the sports, coaches, and athletes who participated in this research project. Without
their commitment and contribution, this project would not have happened.
We look forward to continuing our great working relationship with you.
Thank you for your interest in this research project.19
10. Appendix
Types of Training
Sport specific physical practice: Sport specific physical practice includes those activities that
directly resemble the technical and/or tactical demands associated with your main sport. These
activities require physical effort as well as concentration and are aimed directly at improving
performance.
Physical preparation: Physical preparation includes all activities aimed at improving physiological
and muscular capacities such as strength, power, endurance, and flexibility. Examples of physical
preparation activities include, but are not limited to, strength and conditioning, weights, fitness,
pilates, yoga, and flexibility training.
Mental preparation: Mental preparation includes all activities aimed at improving your knowledge
of your sport, your team, and/or your opponents. Examples of mental preparation activities include,
but are not limited to, working with a psychologist, video analysis / review, watching your sport live
or on television, reading about your sport, surfing the internet for websites and articles about your
sport, or talking about your sport with others.
Informal play: Informal play includes activities that resemble the skills and goals of your main
sport but involve modified rules and/or equipment, with very little to no formal instruction,
coaching, or supervision. The main emphasis of these activities is on fun and enjoyment rather than
performance improvement (e.g. pick-up basketball, swimming in the backyard pool). *Only training
conditions #3 and #4 are applicable for informal play.
Training Conditions
There are four conditions in which training can take place:
1. In groups, supervised: A coach is present at the training venue providing supervision to
you and 1 or more other athletes.
2. Individually, supervised: A coach is present at the training venue providing one-on-one
supervision to you and only you in an individual practice session.
3. In groups, unsupervised: No coach is present to provide supervision but you and 1 or more
other athletes are practicing together.
4. Individually, unsupervised: No coach is present to provide supervision, no-one else is
practicing with you, but you are practicing on your own.You can also read
