Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
Volume
27
Issue
10
First Page
726
Last Page
733
PubMed ID
38965003
Publisher
Elsevier
School
Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
71509
Funders
Australian Government Research Training Program
Abstract
Objectives: This study examined how track cycling coaches, practitioners, and athletes: develop knowledge and practices; value performance areas; and, implement research into practice. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: An online REDCap survey of track cycling coaches, practitioners, and athletes was conducted involving questions related to demographics, performance area importance, knowledge acquisition and application, research relevance, and research direction. Results: A total of 159 responses were received from coaches (n = 55), practitioners (n = 29), and athletes (n = 75). Participants' highest track cycling competition level involvement ranged from local/regional (12.7%) to Olympic/Paralympic (39.9%). Respondents primarily develop practices by observing ‘the sport’ or ‘others competing/working in it’ (both 85.8%). Practitioners develop practices through self-guided learning (96.4%). The primary reason for practice use was prior experience (84.9%), whilst individuals were least likely to use practices resulting in marginal gains with potentially negative outcomes (27.3%). Areas of greatest perceived importance were Aerodynamics, Strength & Conditioning, and Tactics (all > 96% agreed/strongly agreed). Scientific evidence for Tactics (30%) and Mental Skills (26%) was perceived to be lacking, resulting in greater reliance on personal experience (74% and 62%, respectively) to inform training decisions. The main barrier to implementing research into practice was athlete buy-in (84.3%). Conclusions: Within track cycling, informal learning was most popular amongst respondents. Greater reliance on personal experience within evidence-based practice for many performance areas aligns with limited existing research. Most respondents reported multiple barriers affecting research implementation in practice.
DOI
10.1016/j.jsams.2024.06.001
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Stadnyk, A. M., Impellizzeri, F. M., Stanley, J., Menaspà, P., & Slattery, K. M. (2024). Performance determinants and evidence-based practice in track cycling: A survey of coaches, practitioners, and athletes. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 27(10), 726-733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2024.06.001