APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2020 , Vol . 6
( eg Henriksen 2010 ; Henriksen , Stambulova , and Roessler 2010 , Henriksen and Stambulova , 2017 ; Martindale , Collins , and Abraham , 2007 ).
Henriksen et al ( 2010 , 2010 , 2017 ) created the Athletic Talent Development Environment ( see Box 2 for a definition ) as a framework for studying sport environments from a holistic , ecological perspective . The model focuses on the holistic environment and suggests that some environments are superior to others in their capacity to guide talented young athletes to the senior elite level . Henriksen ( 2010 ) argues that successful talent development environments are characterised by training groups with supportive relationships ; proximal role models ; support of sporting goals by the wider environment ; support for the development of psycho-social skills ; training that allows for diversification ; focus on long term development ; and a strong and coherent organisational culture . This holistic approach encourages practitioners to broaden their focus beyond the individual in order to facilitate the successful transition of young athletes to the elite senior level .
Box 2
‘ An athletic talent development environment ( ATDE ) is a dynamic system comprising a ) an athlete ' s immediate surroundings at the micro-level where athletic and personal development take place , b ) the interrelations between these surroundings , c ) at the macro-level , the larger context in which these surroundings are embedded , and d ) the organizational culture of the sports club or team , which is an integrative factor of the ADTE ' s effectiveness in helping young talented athletes to develop into senior elite athletes ’.
Henriksen ( 2010 , p . 160 )
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Martindale , Collins , and Abraham ( 2007 ) argue that the talent development environment is the most consistent and immediately controllable factor in the life of a developing elite athlete . They identified five key generic characteristics of effective talent development environments : a focus on longterm aims and methods ; wide-ranging coherent messages and support ; an emphasis on appropriate development , and not early success ; individualised and ongoing development ; and integrated , holistic and systematic development . They also highlight the key challenges of organisations implementing these strategies successfully , including lack of coherent
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