The Danish Elite Training Environment

Lars Rüsz Kaysen Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics University of Sourthern

Master Thesis Table of Content

. . Objectives . Method . The Athletic Talent Development Environment Model (ATDE) . The ATDE Model – Focused on Coaching . Environmental Success Factor Model (ESF) . The ESF – Focused on Coaching . Results 1 . Results 2 . Questions and Comments

21-05-2013 Badminton Denmark

. Success at international tournaments the last two decades . Very competitive sport at the international level . Asian countries . Despite this Denmark is in the World Top 3 . Medals at World Championships and Olympics

. Badminton Denmark meets the requirements of being categorized as an elite environment by Team Denmark

. Successful elite environment

5/21/2013 Objectives

. What characterizes Badminton Denmark (BD) as a successful elite training environment? . Three objectives with my study: . A depictive model of the elite training environment at BD . Which factors underlies the success BD has achieved during the recent years? . E.g. How is the organizational culture of BD and which values are visible and important . Which differences in the characteristics that reflects the talent environment and the elite environment, respectively?

21-05-2013 Method

. Case study design: “an empirical enquiry that investigates a real-life phenomenon within its real-life context” (Maaloe, 2004) . Holistic ecological perspective (Bronfenbrenner, 1999; Henriksen et al., 2010)

. Interviews: Sports director, team of coaches, elite athletes and young athletes . Observations: Practice, training camp, meetings (formal/informal), competition (), high-low season . Document analysis: articles, training schedules, player profiles, BD’s homepage

21-05-2013 The Athletic Talent Development Environment Model (ATDE)

Henriksen, Stambulova & Roessler, 2010

21-05-2013 Adopted from Henriksen, Stambulova & Roessler, 2010

Staff Clubs in Badminton Denmark Denmark Work and business

Sports director

Experts and

Team of Female-elite Team Denmark Educational system coaches Male-elite

School Training buddies Macro Micro environement environment Family

Non-athletic Athletic domain domain

21-05-2013 Adopted from Henriksen, Stambulova & Roessler, 2010

The ATDE Model – Focused on Coaching

Sports director

Team of coaches Female-elite Male-elite

Training buddies

21-05-2013 The Environmental Success Factor Model (ESF)

Henriksen, Stambulova & Roessler, 2010

21-05-2013 Adopted from Henriksen, Individual Stambulova & Roessler, 2010 development Choice and autonomy Large ego and self -confidence Dedication Social skills and openness

”It’s us against the rest of the world!”

Preconditions Process Success of Training Intelligent players and environment Limited economy with the best focus on personal Measured by development Limited facilities Competition medals and Talent development Individual individual in clubs progression development plans Hard work Coaches =

Respect

Co-responsibility in “Eat or be eaten” own development Tough competition

CULTURE 21-05-2013 Adopted from Henriksen, Stambulova & Roessler, 2010 The ESF Model – Focused on Coaching

”It’s us against the rest of the world!”

Intelligent players and focus on personal development

Hard work =

Respect

Co-responsibility in “Eat or be eaten” own development Tough competition

CULTURE

21-05-2013 Results 1

. Flat hierarchy between the SD and ToC . Strong cooperation, strong core and solid foundation . The composition of the ToC: . Different competencies . Knowledge sharing, professional discussions and learning from each other

. The coaches describe what they are trying to create: . Atmosphere and work setting for the players . Allowed and encouraged to reflect on their own development . Flat hierarchy between coaches and players

. Substantial difference in the work ethic between the male-elite and female- elite groupings in relation to helping and teaching each other

21-05-2013 Results 2

. Artifact: “Us against the rest of the world” . Espoused values: Developing of intelligent players . Capable of making autonomous choices while competing . Maintaining focus on individual development through high quality training . The basic assumptions in the environment are: 1. Co-responsibility in own development and 2. “Eat or be eaten” combined with tough competition and 3. Hard work equals respect from other players.

. The interaction between these three assumptions helps defining the environment

21-05-2013 Questions and comments?

Thank you for your attention

5/21/2013