Author(s): TROTTIER, C., PÉPIN, M.A., YVENAT, C., ROUSSEAU, G., Institution: LAVAL UNIVERSITY, Country: CANADA, Abstract-ID: 2697

Introduction. University athletics programmes that teach life skills can foster positive development in student-athletes, thereby equipping future citizens to handle life’s demands. However, to ensure that these programmes reflect contextual realities, it would be essential to perform a needs assessment to determine which life skills to develop or refine. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the perspectives of key sport stakeholders and administrators at a Canadian university regarding the life skills that student-athletes need to develop.

Methods. As part of a larger research project that used a mixed convergent design to gather complementary data (quantitative and qualitative), this study adopted a qualitative descriptive approach to focus on qualitative aspects. The participants were key sport stakeholders (n = 25) and administrators (n = 8) at the athletics programme of a French-language Canadian university. All participants were closely involved with student-athletes. Three focus group interviews comprising 8 to 13 participants each were held with participants (two with key stakeholders; one with administrators), where they shared their perspectives on student-athletes’ needs. Data were then subjected to content analysis.

Results. The participants’ expressed needs concerned two main life skill categories: mental skills (e.g., building self-confidence, concentration, emotional regulation) and recovery skills (e.g., optimal self-management and energy management, recovery techniques, recovery planning). Administrators stressed that student-athletes should learn to transfer the life skills they develop through sport to their academic and personal lives. Key sport stakeholders wanted more resources and more access to specialists to help them coach student-athletes in life skills development and transfer.

Conclusion. The findings spotlight certain essential components for the development of a future training programme designed to promote positive development in student-athletes enrolled in university athletics programmes.