Reimagining Youth Athletic Development: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Co-designed Game and Constraint-Based Approaches in a Private Strength and Conditioning Setting

Title

Reimagining Youth Athletic Development: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Co-designed Game- and Constraint-Based Approaches in a Private Strength and Conditioning Setting

Overarching Aim of the PhD

To investigate how game- and constraint-based approaches can support long-term athletic development in youth athletes across diverse sporting contexts, with particular emphasis on holistic athleticism, stakeholder perspectives (youth athletes and parents), and real-world implementation within a private strength and conditioning setting.

Study 1

Systematic Review: 
Title: Game- and Constraint-Based Approaches to Developing Athleticism in Youth: A Systematic Review of Training Outcomes and Pedagogical Principles
Aim: To synthesise existing evidence on: (i) How game-based, constraints-led, or nonlinear pedagogical approaches have been used to develop physical and athletic qualities (e.g., movement competence, strength, speed, agility). (ii) Summarise, the age groups, contexts (sport-specific vs non-sport-specific), and outcome measures used in the research. (iii) Highlight gaps in relation to global athletic development (non-sport-specific youth).

Study 2

Title:  Parent and athlete perspectives on what “athletic development” means
Aim: To employ a qualitative approach to understand: (i) How parents and youth athletes conceptualise athletic development. (ii) What the key stakeholders value (e.g., fun, performance, injury prevention, confidence). (iii) Perceived role of games vs traditional training. (iv) Stakeholder expectations of private S&C facilities like Melbourne Athletic.

Study 3

Title: Co Designing a Game  and Constraint Based Youth Athletic Development Program: A Process Evaluation in a Private Strength and Conditioning Facility.
Aim: To produce an informed intervention for study 4 the objective of study 3 is to co design, implement, and evaluate a game  and constraint based youth athletic development program in collaboration with coaches, youth athletes, and (to a limited extent) parents, and to examine: (i) How principles of LTAD and ecological dynamics are translated into practice through co design. (ii) The processes, experiences, and perceptions of stakeholders during implementation. (iii) The contextual constraints shaping program delivery in a private S&C facility. (iv) How co design influences buy in, engagement, and feasibility, ahead of formal effectiveness testing (Study 4).

Study 4

Title: To what extent does a co designed game  and constraint based athletic development program produce meaningful physical and psychosocial adaptations in youth athletes?
Aim: To determine: (i) Whether the co designed intervention leads to meaningful improvements in global athletic qualities (ii) The explore the variability in individual responses to the training program (iii) Formally compare these changes to traditional youth athlete development programs.

This project is funded for 3 years, with the possibility of a 6-month extension upon application.

Stipend

$50,000 per year, provided in fortnightly, tax free installments comprised of $40,000 as the base stipend, and a $10,000 top up from Federation University

Project support

$3,000 per year available to spend on the research project provided by the Research Training Program (RTP) allowance

Tuition fees

Up to $32,000 will be covered by the Research Training Program (RTP) fee-offset scholarship for domestic students

Internship

The project will include a 60-day internship where the successful applicant will work as a strength and conditioning coach with Melbourne Athletic.

To be eligible for the project, you must: 

• be eligible for a PhD
• willing to undertake full-time study
• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident

Please contact Dr Matthew O'Grady before submitting your application. When you're ready to apply, follow these instructions.