1. Global Industry Perspectives on Postgraduate Strength and Conditioning Degrees: An Exploratory Factor Analysis.
- Author
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James, Lachlan P., Davids, Charlie J., Talpey, Scott W., Huynh, Minh, Lidums, Maris, Driller, Matthew W., Kelly, Vincent G., and Gastin, Paul B.
- Subjects
CROSS-sectional method ,TRAINING of athletic trainers ,PHYSICAL training & conditioning ,ATHLETIC trainers ,MENTORING ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,ATTITUDES of medical personnel ,ACADEMIC achievement ,PROFESSIONAL employee training ,MASTERS programs (Higher education) ,ATHLETIC ability ,FACTOR analysis ,INDIVIDUAL development ,DATA analysis software ,PSYCHOSOCIAL factors ,VOCATIONAL guidance ,EMPLOYMENT - Abstract
Purpose: This investigation sought to determine industry perceptions of postgraduate strength and conditioning (S&C) degrees to understand whether graduates are equipped for the demands of sport performance service roles. Methods: Survey data were collected from 111 participants employed as performance staff or in a role that recruits and supervises performance staff. The survey consisted of 3 main sections: (1) perceptions of career-development opportunities in S&C, (2) perception of S&C postgraduate programs, and (3) perceptions of employability in S&C. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify the key factors considered to be of greatest relevance to career progression in S&C. Results: A 2-factor solution was achieved for each of the 3 sections, resulting in 6 total factors. These factors are Academic and Professional Development, Mentorship and Sport Diversity, Student Preparation, Require Greater Emphasis, Testing and Training, and Personal and Professional Growth. Conclusions: Postgraduate S&C programs require a broad range of placement/internship opportunities to (1) provide diverse experiences, (2) allow students to build contacts and develop professional networks, (3) gain exposure to working in high-performance environments and multidisciplinary teams, and (4) access high-quality mentors. Alongside the ability to deliver training and testing, graduates should be equipped with strong organizational and relationship-building skills. Improved graduate capabilities can raise the standards of the profession and result in enhanced service provision to athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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