GLOBAL SPORT DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS AND ATHLETES’ ACCESS TO EDUCATION GLOBAL SPORT DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS AND ATHLETES’ ACCESS TO EDUCATION TO ACCESS AND ATHLETES’ SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT SPORT GLOBAL B. David Ridpath Peter Smolianov RR.2.2019 Spencer Harris Gerard Akindes Wadih Ishac RR.2.2019 Global Sport Development Systems and Athletes’ Access to Education B. David Ridpath Peter Smolianov Spencer Harris Gerard Akindes Wadih Ishac Contents iv Acronyms vii Foreword xii Executive Summary xvi Tables and figures xx Chapter One: Introduction 1 Chapter Two: Review of literature 4 a. United States of America b. Russia c. United Kingdom d. Senegal e. Qatar Chapter Three: Theoretical framework and methods 38 Chapter Four: The case studies 46 a. United States of America b. Russia c. United Kingdom d. Senegal e. Qatar Chapter Five: Overall conclusions and recommendations 105 References 110 v Acronyms ACRONYMS vi AAD Aspire Academy Director of Education (Qatar) BOA British Olympic Association (UK) BPA British Paralympic Association (UK) BUCS British Universities and Colleges Sport (UK) CAS The Court of Arbitration for Sport CCPR Central Council of Physical Recreation (UK) CEO Chief Executive Officer (All) DACE Director of Athlete Career & Education (USA) DCCE Director of Coaching & Coach Education (USA) DCMS Department of Culture, Media & Sport (UK) DCP Director of Collegiate Partnerships (USA) DfE Department for Education (UK) DiSE Diploma in Sporting Excellence (UK) DNH Department of National Heritage (UK) DOE Department of Education (USA) DOS Director of Sport, Bath University (UK) DSD Deputy Sport Director-Aspire (Qatar) ECB England & Wales Cricket Board (UK) EDNCYS Exec. Director, National Council of Youth Sports (USA) EDQOA Exec. Director Qatar Olympic Academy EFL English Football League (UK) EIS The English Institute of Sport (UK) EPL English Premier League (UK) EU The European Union FA The Football Association (UK) FIFA Fédération Internationale de Football Association FTTM Full-time Training Model (UK) GTO Ready for Labor and Defense Fitness Program (Russia) HMG Her Majesty’s Government (UK) HP / HPS High Performance / High performance Sport (Russia) HTM Hybrid Training Model (UK) vii IAAF International Amateur Athletics Federation INSEPS National Institute of Sport and Education, Senegal IMF International Monetary Fund IOC International Olympic Committee JOSOOR Josoor Institute Qatar LFE League Football Education (UK) LPSD La Lettre de Politique Sectorielle de Développement des Sports LTAD Long-Term Athlete Development (USA) NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (USA) NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association (USA) NDPB Non-Departmental Public Body NGB National Governing Body of Sport NSF National Sport Federations ONS Office of National Statistics (UK) PCA Professional Cricketers Association (UK) PTTM Part-time Training Model (USA) QGF Qatar Gymnastics Federation QNTDOO Qatar National Teams Director of Operations RFU Rugby Football Union (UK) RLFL Rugby League Football Limited (UK) RLPA Rugby League Players Association UK (UK) RPA Rugby Players Association (UK) SE Sport England (UK) SSP Sport Science Program-Qatar University TASS Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (UK) U.K. United Kingdom UKS UK Sport (UK) UN United Nations USOC United States Olympic Committee WADA World Anti-Doping Agency WCPP World Class Performance Plan (UK) viii Foreword At least since the ancient Olympics elite athletes face during their the feats and achievements of elite development, and post-career. It athletes have sparked a universal examines the role and involvement fascination across the ages, stirring of commercial interests in elite sport fundamental human emotions around competition. The country studies our will, not only to survive a brutal --of the United Kingdom, the United existence, but to excel. Rome’s mega- States, Russia, Senegal, and Qatar-- star athletes from the classical era reveal a striking variety of approaches awed the masses just as today their and structures for the recruitment, modern-day descendants do with development, and support for top dazzling skills in a myriad variety of athletes in life-long education and sports. As communities and societies career goals. we are captivated by a crowded calendar of truly global competitions, with their spectacle of national pride These approaches range from the lavished by commercial glamor. outward non-involvement of the U.S. government in athletics and sport, to the close integration of sport Sports and well-being in education and government in Russia --a deeply and learning was established early ingrained carry-over from the Soviet among the key, multi-sectoral interests system. Yet for all the countries of WISE research. We welcome this studied, whatever the channels of fruitful contribution and we look support for elite athletes, success on forward to further explorations in global stages reflects an investment this vital and compelling sector of with hoped-for abundant returns in education. Our colleagues from the Ohio University have placed the elite athlete at the center of the maelstrom, more pressured than ever to perform, to win, and to bring home medals. Yet with all their devotion to pushing the limits of human endurance, and to scoring victories, most elite athletes face uncertainties once they leave formal competition. Particularly those from countries of the Global South who have pinned their dreams of glory to success in elite sport find themselves struggling in the real world. The research raises concerns about the ‘sportsmanship’ of the systems that produce our elite athletes, but often lack educational pathways for career development and life-long support. The report introduces the constellation of key sports organizations in each of five countries, and focuses on how these societies and their governments use education to address the challenges ix national pride, prestige, and status. ‘fight to the death’ contests of Rome’s gladiators. Such realities dramatize The recent federal lawsuit in the the pressures and tensions within United States alleging bribery in sport systems whose mission includes college admission may carry implicit the physical-emotional well-being of warnings for elite athlete education. athletes. As the research finds, the original objective of mass participation in sport and exercise --building sound The progress and attention these minds and bodies— has devolved to countries have made and given a focus on the revenue generating toward improving systems of support talents of victorious athletes and for athlete education outshines the teams who brought home medals. It sharp differences in their approaches. suggests a need for sports educators Most hopefully, the authors advocate and administrators to be alert to flaws for the empowerment of athletes that emerge from systems increasingly who, after all, are most directly and enmeshed with moneyed corporate personally impacted by systems and influences, and vulnerable to fixations processes. They are entitled to the on national prestige and status where unalienable right of having their voices the operative dynamic veers toward heard and heeded. ‘pay to play’. The perils and pressures for athletes can be severe. It may not be hyperbole to suggest that the demonstrated health risks of American football –concussion, cognitive and emotional problems, even suicide— now take second place only to the Asmaa Al-Fadala, PhD Director, Research and Content World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) x xii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This research explores elite sport of these ancillary benefits. These can development systems and aspects materialize due to a greater emphasis of educational attainment and on not only elite development, but opportunities for elite athletes also expansion of mass participation and recreational opportunities since in n a variety of national sport so few people are recognized as development systems. The countries elite. The ostensible benefits of analyzed for this project are the sports participation are wide ranging United States, the United Kingdom, but as noted in this report, sport Russia, Senegal, and Qatar. These development cannot overshadow were selected by the researchers education attainment and career because of the heterogeneous progression outside of the athletic space for any athlete regardless of social-political contexts, the diverse classification. histories in relation to sport and education, and the expectation of a The research involved a detailed variety of approaches toward elite review of literature in each country athlete development and education to present appropriate structural attainment. The objective of this context for the empirical work. The research is to compare and contrast primary research involved several the examined systems to ascertain interviews with key stakeholders best practices and approaches involved in the sport development for elite athletes to gain a viable and/or education systems within education experience and career each country. This empirical work was development for life after formal conducted to provide an increased competitive sport. understanding of education and career options for the elite athlete. Often in elite sport development; The interviews focused on reviewing the primary focus is on training, practices and commonalities in various performance, and the ultimate bottom global economic and socio-cultural line of victory. Top performance conditions. at an amateur, professional or international level in