Evaluation of the long-term athlete development model in the volleyball athlete development program
This study addresses the limited empirical evidence evaluating the implementation of the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model at the club level, particularly in team sports such as volleyball, where gaps between theoretical principles and coaching practice frequently persist. Using an evaluative case study design with a mixed-methods convergent parallel approach, this research examined the alignment of program structure and developmental stages, the quality of the talent development environment, and the implications for athlete well-being and participation sustainability within the volleyball development program at TVRI Medan Volleyball Club. Quantitative data were collected from 200 respondents using the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ) and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), along with training attendance and athlete retention indicators. Qualitative data were collected through document analysis of 15 coaching documents, semi-structured interviews with 8 participants (coaches and managers), and structured observations of 12 training sessions across 3 age-group teams. The findings indicate that LTAD has been adopted within the club's development framework; however, its implementation remains partial and adaptive, largely influenced by short-term competitive demands. The talent development environment was rated as good (M = 3.70), with psychosocial support emerging as the strongest dimension, although the balance between challenge and support requires further improvement. Athlete burnout was found to be at a moderate level (M = 2.58), particularly in physical and emotional exhaustion, while training attendance was high and athlete retention remained stable at 80% across three consecutive periods. These results contribute theoretically by reinforcing context-sensitive evaluations of LTAD at the club level and practically by providing evidence-based insights for designing more sustainable, athlete-centered, and long-term-oriented volleyball development programs.
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