Beyond Performance: Coaching Attributes for Long-Term Athletic Development and Lifelong Skill Acquisition
Keywords:
Coaching Attributes, Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), Lifelong Skill Acquisition, Athlete-Centered Coaching, Sport Coaching, Skill Development, Elite AthletesAbstract
Contemporary athlete development models emphasize the need to move beyond short-term performance outcomes toward sustainable, holistic growth. However, empirical evidence identifying the specific coaching attributes that facilitate long-term athletic development (LTAD) and lifelong skill acquisition remains limited, particularly within emerging sports systems. This study aimed to identify and examine the key coaching attributes perceived by elite athletes as essential for their long-term development, with a specific focus on skill development and training goal orientation within the context of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed. A sample of 110 elite athletes competing at provincial to international levels completed a validated 24-item questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive and statistical analyses. A strong, significant positive correlation was found between skill development and training goal attributes, indicating their interdependence. Significant differences in perceptions were observed across demographic variables: female athletes reported more positive perceptions than males; perceptions varied significantly by competition level and years of experience, following a non-linear career-stage pattern. No significant differences were found across sporting or geographic localities. The findings establish that structured skill development and process-oriented training goals are foundational, interrelated coaching attributes for sustainable athlete development. Their perceived effectiveness is not static but is dynamically shaped by the athlete’s career stage, gender, and competitive level, while remaining consistent across sports and regions. The study concludes that effective coaching for lifelong development requires integrating these core attributes within an adaptive, athlete-centered framework that evolves across the developmental continuum.
References
Allan, V., Turmange, J., & Côté, J. (2022). Examining coach-athlete interactions using state space grids: An observational analysis in competitive youth sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 58, 102066.
Bailey, R., Ford, P., MacNamara, A., & Pearce, G. (2010). Participant development in sport: An academic review (Vol. 4, pp. 1-134). Leeds: Sports Coach UK.
Baker, J., & Horton, S. (2004). A review of the primary and secondary influences on sport expertise. High Ability Studies, 15(2), 211–228.
Collins, D., MacNamara, Á, & McCarthy, N. (2019). Putting the bumps in the linear road to expertise. Quest, 71(3), 293–309.
Côté, J., & Gilbert, W. (2009). An integrative definition of coaching effectiveness and expertise. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 4(3), 307–323.
Dehghansai, N., Lemez, S., Wattie, N., & Baker, J. (2022). A systematic review of influences on the development of athletes with disabilities. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 39(2), 179–198.
Ford, P., De Ste Croix, M., Lloyd, R., Meyers, R., Moosavi, M., Oliver, J. & Williams, C. (2011). The long-term athlete development model: Physiological evidence and application. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29(4), 389–402.
Gao, Z., Lee, J. E., & Xiang, P. (2023). Parental influences on children’s physical activity: A systematic review. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 12(1), 3–13.
Grant, A. M., Cavanagh, M. J., & Parker, H. M. (2010). The state of play in coaching today: A comprehensive review of the field. International Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 25, 125–167.
Henriksen, K., & Stambulova, N. (2022). Sport psychology interventions with young athletes: A holistic approach to talent development. Routledge.
Høigaard, R., Jones, G. W., & Peters, D. M. (2021). The relationship between perceived coaching behaviours and group cohesion in soccer. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16(2), 346–356.
Jowett, S., & Cockerill, I. M. (2003). Olympic medalists’ perspective of the athlete–coach relationship. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 4(4), 313–331.
Knight, C. J., Boden, C. M., & Holt, N. L. (2018). Junior tennis players’ preferences for parental behaviors. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 30(2), 187–202.
Koopmans, L., Bernaards, C. M., Hildebrandt, V. H., & van der Beek, A. J. (2018). Development of an individual work performance questionnaire. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 67(2), 427–445.
Lara-Bercial, S., & Mallett, C. J. (2019). The practice and personal development logs of elite coaches in team sports. International Sport Coaching Journal, 6(1), 93–105.
Lloyd, R. S., Cronin, J. B., Faigenbaum, A. D., Haff, G., Howard, R., Kraemer, W. J., ... & Oliver, J. L. (2016). National Strength and Conditioning Association position statement on long-term athletic development. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 30(6), 1491-1509.
Lloyd, R. S., Oliver, J. L., Faigenbaum, A. D., Howard, R., De Ste Croix, M. B., Williams, C. A., ... & Myer, G. D. (2015). Long-term athletic development, part 1: A pathway for all youth. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29(5), 1439–1450.
Lyle, J., & Cushion, C. (2017). Sport coaching concepts: A framework for coaching practice (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Rongen, F., McKenna, J., Cobley, S., & Till, K. (2020). Are youth sport talent identification and development systems necessary and healthy? Sports Medicine – Open, 6(1), 18.
Russell, W. D., Cox, R. H., & Henderson, K. (2010). Coaching attributes to talent development. Journal of Sport Behavior, 33(4), 447–464.
Smith, R. E. (2003). The ethics of coaching. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 1(1), 49–58.
Supriyanto, A., Siswantoyo, S., & Suherman, W. S. (2023). The influence of peer relationships on motivation and sports performance in young athletes. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 23(1), 112–119.
Taylor, J., Collins, D., & Ashford, M. (2023). Psychological characteristics of developing excellence in sport: A systematic review and meta-synthesis. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Advance online publication.
Till, K., Baker, J., & Scantlebury, S. (2020). Long-term athletic development: From theory to practice. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 42(6), 85–93.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Hafza Akhtar, Sohail Roman, Anila Iqbal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
