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Abstract
This study extends athlete training adherence research by focusing on motivation and social support in athletes who successfully attend strength and conditioning sessions. Six male elite school-age athletes with high training attendance participated in semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences of strength and conditioning training. Their parents and two of their coaches also participated in interviews, and analysis was conducted using abbreviated grounded theory methodology. Facilitating factors relating to athletes themselves include motivation, enjoyment, a mastery-approach orientation, comprehension, thoughts and actions, determination and observable results. Support from parents, coaches and other athletes was also found to be important facilitators, along with routine. Athletes should be supported to move towards autonomous motivation to enhance their adherence to training. Additional recommendations for athletes, coaches and sporting organisations are given.