International sporting success factors in GB para-track and field

Figures & data

Table 1. Study design.

Phase	Data collection method	Population and sample
1: Qualitative	Semi-structured interviews	GB international para-athletes (n = 8)
		Coaches of GB international para-athletes (n = 6).
2: Quantitative	Survey	GB international para-athletes (n = 42)
3: Quantitative	Survey	Coaches of GB international para-athletes (n = 38).
4: Qualitative	Semi-structured interviews	UK Athletics Paralympic Head Coach,
		UK Athletics Parallel Success Coordinators (n = 2).

Table 2. Factors influencing success in international para-track and field.

	Congenital impairment	Acquired impairment	High support needs	High equipment needs
Financial support			Support needs to perform day to day tasks (care needs) and sport-specific care needs (V.I. Guide).	Specialist equipment costs for wheelchair events, seated throw frames and prosthetic limbs. Essential charity support to enable participation.
Governance, Organisation and Structure	The complexity of increased federations and disability sport associations (DSAs).	The complexity of increased federations and disability sport associations (DSAs). Military rehabilitation centres; specific charities (Help for Heroes’) and event organisations (Invictus Games).
Scientific Research	Lack of research understanding training science for specific impairments.		Coach/athlete/ carer relationship and dependency unexplored.	Sport technology and engineering research is needed.
Sport Participation		Pre-impairment acquisition non-disabled participation.	Specialist schooling may introduce para-specific events in a high care need environment.	Bespoke, high-cost equipment needed to participate.
Talent identification and development	School attendance type (special/mainstream). Mainstream schooling ability-based barriers. Individual introduction to parasport.	Participation level in non-disabled sport pre-impairment acquisition.		Specialist schooling may introduce para-specific events in a high care need environment.
Athlete carer pathways	Rapid progression, National level to Major championships within the short time frame (first international frequently major championships).	Entry to sport at a late age. The transition from rehabilitation to elite sport.		Funding requirement to enable participation & progression.
Training facilities	Accessibility of facilities and transport			Availability of facilities for para-throwing
Coaching provision and education	Lack of mentoring, specific education and development opportunities. Appropriate inclusion of para coaching in mainstream coach education. Distinction needed between differentiation and inclusive practice. Progression from participation to performance. An integrated approach (the club set up).
(inter)national competition	Linked to rapid progression, lack of classification competitive opportunities, variation depending on event group (increased competitive opportunities for wheelchair track and those who can compete against able-bodied athletes).		Care needs support at competition. Classification based competition.
Athletics and post-career support