“It's about the cake, not the icing”: The current state of the Australian high-performance sport pathway system: A qualitative gap analysis study

Abstract

Objectives

Primary: To examine the current macro-system state of the Australian high-performance sport (HPS) pathway system and characterise macro-system level factors (gaps) influencing athlete attrition, including the relationships between these factors.

Secondary: To develop an integrative framework to increase awareness and facilitate targeted discussions about how to retain talented athletes within HPS pathway programmes.

Design

Qualitative; gap analysis using a grounded theory and systems thinking approach.

Methods

Twenty-three Australian HPS system governance level stakeholders who worked with, or specialised in, Olympic or Paralympic performance pathways were recruited. Using a grounded theory approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted using gap analysis principles as a guide.

Results

This study identified three overarching domains: ‘governance and assurance’, ‘coaching’ and ‘health stewardship’; along with eight themes and twenty-five subthemes. An integrated framework was developed to illustrate the interdependencies between the identified domains. From examining the framework and relationships between the three domains, four considerations were identified: (1) ‘knowledge management’ with the high-performance sport pathway system needs refinement; (2) pathway strategies need to be ‘fit for purpose’; (3) ‘health stewardship’ is a shared system-wide responsibility; and (4) ‘attrition and retention monitoring’ needs to be prioritised within high-performance sport pathway programmes.

Conclusions

Findings emphasise the importance of refining knowledge management strategies, optimising pathway frameworks, integrating health stewardship, and prioritising systematic attrition monitoring within pathway programmes. Addressing these considerations can improve athlete retention, enhance system stewardship, organisational performance and support the long-term sustainability of high-performance sport pathways.