Are they heading in the same direction? An analysis of goal perspectives among key stakeholders in junior elite sport

Abstract

In junior elite sport, the shared pursuit of holistic goals is crucial for effective talent development and promotion. This study examines how coaches, managers and athletes in Germany evaluate holistic goals of talent development and promotion and how assessments differ within and across groups. Online questionnaires yielded 786 valid responses (coaches: n = 156; managers: n = 146; athletes: n = 484). Wilcoxon rank-sum, Kruskal–Wallis and Chi-square tests were used for intra- and intergroup analyses. Results show that coaches and managers emphasise sporting and non-sporting developmental goals over competition goals, with marginal differences linked to employment status, field of activity, qualifications and prior experience as an elite athlete. Junior elite athletes focus more on competition goals, though responses display considerable individual variation, partly associated with squad status. The findings highlight the need for aligned goal-setting frameworks and further applied research on goal-setting in junior elite sport.