Identifying stakeholder perspectives and priorities for athlete monitoring technology: A mixed-methods study based on interviewing Belgian high-performance sports organisations

Abstract

The rapid growth of technology in managing training processes offers both opportunities and challenges for sports practitioners. This study examines factors influencing technology adoption in four high-performance sports: golf, sprint kayak, freestyle snowboarding, and volleyball. Each discipline reflects distinct physiological and training needs. Using an interview-based approach and including 25 stakeholders (6 athletes, 14 coaches, and 5 high-performance managers), we captured qualitative and quantitative insights into the perceived benefits and challenges of technology in athlete monitoring.

The thematic analysis identified key advantages of technology in athlete monitoring, including objective data support, enhanced engagement, real-time feedback, and increased confidence, while also highlighting concerns around misuse, time demands, and technological complexity. Conflicting views on motivation, comfort, and human oversight further emphasized the challenges in integrating technology effectively.

To quantify these insights, we applied the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a structured prioritisation approach that is new within sports science, to rank essential technology features. Findings ranked Reliability (1^st; 18.73%) and Validity (2^nd; 18.42%) as top priorities, with Interpretability (3^rd; 9.95%), Responsiveness (4^th; 9.02%), and Complexity (5^th; 8.08%) also valued. Key training priorities included monitoring Technique (1^st; 15.94%), Performance (2^nd; 15.24%), and Benchmarking (3^rd; 11.90%).

The thematic analysis highlights the importance of balanced use of technology. In a complementary approach, the AHP provides a structured method for assessing stakeholder priorities, enhancing decision-making and helping align technology development with practitioner needs. By introducing a framework that bridges communication between engineers, scientists, and practitioners, this study guides the development of user-centred sports technologies that effectively address real-world challenges in high-performance organisations.