Success factors in the training of elite coaches in high-performance swimming: Analysis from a focus group

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the factors elite coaches consider most important in enhancing coach swimmers’ professional education and efficiency. A focus group was conducted with four Portuguese coaches recognized by the Portuguese Swimming Federation as “elite coaches” for having qualified swimmers for finals in the European Championships, World Championships, and Olympic Games. The focus group leader used a prepared set of semi-structured questions to guide the 90-minute sessions. Sessions were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by a set procedure for qualitative analysis to identify the coaches’ perspectives on the factors that enhance coach swimmers’ professional efficiency. The coach’s personal and professional characteristics and beliefs about coach education, capacity for continuous updating, and teamwork play a determining role. The results showed that coaches value and recognize the benefits of their academic and informal training, the positive experiences as swimmers, and the importance of science in sports. Multidisciplinary support involving professionals from areas such as medicine, biomechanics, physiotherapy, nutrition, psychology, and rigorous management of the training and competition process complement the determining factors for success in high-performance swimming. In conclusion, the multifactorial nature of success in this sport has highlighted the central role of promoting eclectic training for coaches, considering the challenges of elite sports.