ABSTRACT

In many ways, the world of sport is no different to the world in which we all live. Within each sport every country has its own culture. That culture is seemingly underpinned by a combination of long held beliefs, tried and tested approaches, and a differing stance on the inclusion of ‘innovation’. As such, it is clear that the world of sport is a smorgasbord of interacting and conflicting cultures. As a consequence, applying the same athlete development system to the different sporting cultures would be difficult. It appears, that given the different (but linked) journeys of both athletes and coaches, our progress in both, in any sport, as has much to celebrate, but also still faces challenges.