Talent and Teams in Elite Motor Sport: Driving Development Through an Interpersonal Focus
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Talent and Teams in Elite Motor Sport: Driving Development Through An Interpersonal Focus by Brian Cameron A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the requirements for the degree of Professional Doctorate in Elite Performance at the University of Central Lancashire October 2020 STUDENT DECLARATION FORM Type of Award Professional Doctorate in Elite Performance School School of Sport and Wellbeing 1. Concurrent registration for two or more academic awards I declare that while registered as a candidate for the research degree, I have not been a registered candidate or enrolled student for another award of the University or other academic or professional institution __________________________________________________________________ 2. Material submitted for another award I declare that no material contained in the thesis has been used in any other submission for an academic award and is solely my own work __________________________________________________________________ 3. Collaboration Where a candidate’s research programme is part of a collaborative project, the thesis must indicate in addition clearly the candidate’s individual contribution and the extent of the collaboration. Please state below: __________________________________________________________________ 4. Use of a Proof-reader No proof-reading service was used in the compilation of this thesis. Signature of Candidate: Print name: Brian W Cameron 1 ABSTRACT Motor sport is a sport of constant development and innovation (Delbridge & Mariotti, 2009). At elite levels, marginal gains create fractions of a second differences between winners and also-rans (Motorsportsetc, 2019). It is a field in which little research has been undertaken in human performance and competitors and teams rely on experience and serendipity for success. The overall purpose of this thesis is to explore the value of focussing on interpersonal behaviours in the development of elite drivers and teams. Chapter 1 and 2 outline the thesis and the rationale for adopting a pragmatic research philosophy. Chapter 3 investigated talent development knowledge, explored the context of motor sport and, found many similarities such as developmental stages and normative and non-normative transitions (e.g. Bailey & Collins, 2013; Wylleman, Alferman & Lavallee, 2004). With increasingly higher levels engaged in by reducing numbers of competitors Chapter 4 investigated enabling and constraining factors using focus groups with young elite drivers and interviews with motorsport professionals. This uncovered the critical role of interpersonal relationships in achieving long term success. Based on the critical role of interpersonal behaviours found in Chapters 3 and 4 Insights Discovery (ID), a psychometric tool used predominantly for interpersonal development in business, was evaluated in Chapter 5. This concluded that, with some caveats, its use could offer opportunities for enhancing development and performance through positively impacting relationships. Chapter 6 thereafter studied the application of ID in a global elite young driver programme and used qualitative methods to investigate the impact from the perspectives of the drivers and those in their sporting network. Whereas benefits were reported one critical limitation was that only the driver side of relationships was addressed. Therefore, to explore the impact of using ID more 2 extensively Chapter 7 presented a case study of the application of ID across a whole team, including a young elite driver, in a development programme during an international race series. The study concludes that there are tangible benefits to be gained from focussing on interpersonal development in elite motor sport and that, with knowledgeable and considered application, the use of ID can help realise these, Further it is concluded that opportunities exist for benefits to be read across into other areas and sports. 3 CONTENTS STUDENT DECLARATION FORM 1 ABSTRACT 2 CONTENTS 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 13 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview 14 1.2 My Personal Context 16 1.3 Research Questions and Objectives 19 1.4 Structure of the Thesis 21 CHAPTER 2: PHILOSOPHY AND METHODOLOGY 2.1 Seeking an Appropriate Research Philosophy 25 2.2 Considering Alternative Philosophies 29 2.3 Challenges of a Pragmatic Research Philosophy 31 2.3.1 Challenges for the Researcher 32 2.3.2 Challenges in Methodology 34 2.3.3 Challenges in Quality of Research 35 2.4 Summary 37 CHAPTER 3: TALENT DEVELOPMENT KNOWLEDGE AND MOTOR SPORT 3.1 Introduction 39 3.2 Talent Development Factors 39 3.2.1 Notable Features of the Overall Journey 40 3.2.1.1 A Staged Perspective on Development 40 3.2.1.2 A Micro Level Perspective on Development 43 3.2.1.3 Examining the Challenges of the Journey 44 3.2.1.4 In Summary 50 3.2.2 Individual Attributes and Skills 51 3.2.2.1 Psychobehavioural Factors – The Role of Self- Awareness and Reflection 52 3.2.2.2 Psychobehavioural Factors – Achieving Optimal Performance 55 3.2.3 Facilitative Environments and Programmes 58 3.2.3.1 Considering Talent Development Environments 58 3.2.3.2 TDEs – A Broader Perspective 61 3.2.3.3 Problems in Talent Development Practice 65 3.2.4 Summary 67 3.3 Talent Development in Motor Sport: Current Approaches and Future Needs 67 3.3.1 The Unique Organisation and Culture of Motor Sport 69 3.3.1.1 Sporting Governance, Events and Disciplines 69 3.3.1.2 The Predominant Types of Motor Sport and the Transferability of Technical and Tactical Skills 71 3.3.1.3 The Relevance of Skills Transferability and Transition Levels in Motor Sport 72 3.3.1.4 The Role of Racing and Rallying Teams 75 3.3.1.5 Significant Other Input 76 4 3.3.2 Professional Drivers: Who They Tend to Be and What They Tend to Have 77 3.3.3 Typical Routes to the Top 81 3.3.3.1 The Sporting Pathways of Race and Rally 82 3.3.3.2 The Significant Role of Finance 84 3.3.4 Recent Developments in Talent Development 86 3.3.4.1 The Motorsport UK Academy 88 3.3.4.2 The FIA Young Driver Excellence Academy (YDEA) 89 3.3.5 Summary 91 3.3.6 Gaps in Knowledge and Practice: Identifying the Next Step 93 CHAPTER 4: EXPLORING THE ENABLERS AND CONSTRAINTS OF TALENT DEVELOPMENT IN MOTOR SPORT 4.1 Introduction 95 4.2 Methodology 97 4.2.1 Overview 97 4.2.2 Study Part 1: Focus Groups 98 4.2.2.1 Design 98 4.2.2.2 Participants 100 4.2.2.2.1 Recruitment Considerations for Focus Groups 100 4.2.2.2.2 Focus Group 1: Motorsport UK Group 102 4.2.2.2.3 Focus Groups 2 & 3: YDEA Group 1, YDEA Group 2 102 4.2.2.2.4 Focus Group 4: YDEA Group 3 102 4.2.2.3 Procedure 103 4.2.2.3.1 Procedure for Data Collection 104 4.2.2.3.2 Variances between Groups 107 4.2.2.5 Data Analysis 109 4.2.3 Study Part 2: Interviews 111 4.2.3.1 Design 111 4.2.3.2 Participants 112 4.2.3.3 Procedure 113 4.2.3.4 Data Analysis 115 4.2.4 Addressing Trustworthiness 116 4.3 Results: Part 1, Focus Groups 119 4.3.1 Intrapersonal Attributes and Skills 120 4.3.1.1 Making the Best-Informed Decisions 120 4.2.1.2 Developing Physical, Technical and Tactical Skills for Success 121 4.3.1.3 Psychological Skills and Characteristics 122 4.3.2 Interpersonal Attributes and Skills 124 4.3.2.1 Managing Behaviours to Achieve Optimum Outcomes 124 4.3.2.2 Utilisation of Support Network 125 4.3.2.3 Forging Relationships to Provide the Money to Achieve Success 126 4.3.3 Key Consistencies and Differences Across Participants 128 4.4 Results: Part 2, Interviews 130 5 4.4.1 Demonstrate Developed Personal Competences 132 4.4.1.1 Effective decision-Making Capability 132 4.4.1.2 Accurate Self-Assessment and Demonstration of Appropriate Physical, Technical and Tactical Skills 133 4.4.1.3 Understand and Demonstrate Appropriate Psychological Skills 134 4.4.2 Demonstrate High Levels of Social Competence 136 4.4.2.1 Demonstrate a Portfolio of Differing Behavioural Styles 136 4.4.2.2 Show Effective Working with Others 137 4.4.2.3 Manage the Relationship with Sponsors 139 4.5 Discussion 140 4.5.1 Overview 140 4.5.2 Decision-Making 141 4.5.3 Physical, Technical and Tactical Skills 142 4.5.4 Psychological Skills and Characteristics 143 4.5.5 Managing Behaviours 143 4.5.6 Working with Others 144 4.5.7 Relationship with Sponsors 145 4.5.8 Overall Comparison to Models of Talent Development 146 4.6 The Significance of Relationships and Interpersonal Behaviour 149 4.6.1 Emergence of Interpersonal Factors Throughout the Results 149 4.6.2 ‘Real life’ Support / Practical Examples of the Importance of Interpersonal Factors 149 4.7 Summary and Next Steps 150 CHAPTER 5: INSIGHTS DISCOVERY, A TOOL TO SUPPORT INTERPERSONAL SOPHISTICATION 5.1 Introduction 153 5.2 Insights Discovery: Where it has Come From and What it Offers 155 5.2.1 Background to Insights 156 5.2.2 Underpinning Goals 157 5.2.3 Suitable Theoretical Base 159 5.2.4 Other Jungian Based Psychometrics 160 5.2.5 Choosing Discovery 162 5.2.6 The Evaluator 164 5.2.7 The Outputs: The Discovery Profile 166 5.2.8 Evidence of Reliability and Validity 169 5.2.8.1 Reliability and Validity 169 5.2.8.2 Rigour in Development 170 5.2.9 Evidence of Successful Application 171 5.3 Matching the Benefits of Discovery to the Challenges Reported in Chapter 4 175 5.3.1 Relevant use 175 5.3.2 Specific Use in Motor Sport Talent Development 176 5.3.3 Discovery: What it can Offer 178 5.3.4 Contextualising Discovery Resources 180 5.4 Additional Benefits 181 5.4.1 Use as a Tool for Coaching 182 6 5.4.2 Use as a Tool for Supporting Sponsorship Training 182 5.4.3 Other Constructs Using Discovery Principles 184 5.5 Delivering Discovery in Motor Sport: Key Considerations and Limitations 185 5.5.1