Positive Youth Development in Swimming: Clarification and Consensus of Key Psychosocial Assets

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to gain a more cohesive understanding of the assets considered necessary to develop in young swimmers to ensure both individual and sport-specific development. This two-stage study involved (a) a content analysis of key papers to develop a list of both psychosocial skills for performance enhancement and assets associated with positive youth development, and (b) in-depth interviews involving 10 expert swim coaches, practitioners, and youth sport scholars. Five higher-order categories containing 17 individual assets emerged. These results are discussed in relation to both existing models of positive youth development and implications for coaches, practitioners and parents when considering the psychosocial development of young British swimmers.