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Understanding and Enhancing Whole Person Development in the Sport School Environment / REUBEN POOLE

Swansea University Author: REUBEN POOLE

  • E-Thesis – open access under embargo until: 24th September 2027

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.71063

Abstract

The present thesis initially aimed to explore the application of a whole person approach within a sports-friendly school environment. However, as the research progressed,it became evident that acknowledging athletes as whole persons was insufficient; instead, a structured and proactive approach to t...

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Published: Swansea 2025
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Knight, C.; Hill, D. M.; Lovett, V. E.; Harwood, C. G.; and Henriksen, K.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71063
first_indexed 2025-12-03T14:25:10Z
last_indexed 2025-12-05T09:33:49Z
id cronfa71063
recordtype RisThesis
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spelling 2025-12-03T14:36:20.6242861 v2 71063 2025-12-03 Understanding and Enhancing Whole Person Development in the Sport School Environment 60c17b303b2ab844e8fd1a0bda5e16c7 REUBEN POOLE REUBEN POOLE true false 2025-12-03 The present thesis initially aimed to explore the application of a whole person approach within a sports-friendly school environment. However, as the research progressed,it became evident that acknowledging athletes as whole persons was insufficient; instead, a structured and proactive approach to their development was needed—conceptualised aswhole person development. This led to a shift in focus toward intentional efforts to support student-athletes across all areas of life. Accordingly, the thesis had two primary aims: (1) to explore how a sports-friendly school environment supports whole person development and its impact on transitions beyond school, and (2) to examine how whole person development can be effectively embedded within such settings through organisational change interventions.Study 1 used qualitative case study methods to explore how a whole person approach was understood and supported within a British sports-friendly school. Findings revealed that whole person development was viewed as a future-oriented process shaped by exposure to new opportunities and people, quality social interactions, and autonomy and responsibility.Study 2 examined student-athletes’ transitions beyond the school, highlighting that perceived continuity across sport and education environments facilitated adjustment, particularly where prior developmental experiences had fostered readiness and adaptability. Study 3 assessed the feasibility of implementing an organisational change intervention focused on whole person development within a girls’ field hockey environment. The intervention was partiallyfeasible, but limited by structural constraints, leadership engagement, and competing performance demands. Study 4 built on these insights, implementing a revised intervention within a swimming environment. Here, greater staff alignment, athlete buy-in, and embedded delivery enabled more consistent integration of whole person development into daily practice.Collectively, the thesis provides empirical insight into how whole person development is understood, experienced, and operationalised within sport schools, offering practical and conceptual contributions to research and applied practice in youth sport environments. E-Thesis Swansea Adolescents, dual career, personal development, student-athlete, holistic ecological approach 24 9 2025 2025-09-24 10.23889/SUThesis.71063 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Knight, C.; Hill, D. M.; Lovett, V. E.; Harwood, C. G.; and Henriksen, K. Doctoral Ph.D 2025-12-03T14:36:20.6242861 2025-12-03T14:13:00.6914093 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences REUBEN POOLE 1 Under embargo Under embargo 2025-12-03T14:21:55.9025765 Output 2529200 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true 2027-09-24T00:00:00.0000000 Copyright: the author, Reuben J. Poole, 2025. Distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY 4.0) true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Understanding and Enhancing Whole Person Development in the Sport School Environment
spellingShingle Understanding and Enhancing Whole Person Development in the Sport School Environment
REUBEN POOLE
title_short Understanding and Enhancing Whole Person Development in the Sport School Environment
title_full Understanding and Enhancing Whole Person Development in the Sport School Environment
title_fullStr Understanding and Enhancing Whole Person Development in the Sport School Environment
title_full_unstemmed Understanding and Enhancing Whole Person Development in the Sport School Environment
title_sort Understanding and Enhancing Whole Person Development in the Sport School Environment
author_id_str_mv 60c17b303b2ab844e8fd1a0bda5e16c7
author_id_fullname_str_mv 60c17b303b2ab844e8fd1a0bda5e16c7_***_REUBEN POOLE
author REUBEN POOLE
author2 REUBEN POOLE
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUThesis.71063
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences
document_store_str 0
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description The present thesis initially aimed to explore the application of a whole person approach within a sports-friendly school environment. However, as the research progressed,it became evident that acknowledging athletes as whole persons was insufficient; instead, a structured and proactive approach to their development was needed—conceptualised aswhole person development. This led to a shift in focus toward intentional efforts to support student-athletes across all areas of life. Accordingly, the thesis had two primary aims: (1) to explore how a sports-friendly school environment supports whole person development and its impact on transitions beyond school, and (2) to examine how whole person development can be effectively embedded within such settings through organisational change interventions.Study 1 used qualitative case study methods to explore how a whole person approach was understood and supported within a British sports-friendly school. Findings revealed that whole person development was viewed as a future-oriented process shaped by exposure to new opportunities and people, quality social interactions, and autonomy and responsibility.Study 2 examined student-athletes’ transitions beyond the school, highlighting that perceived continuity across sport and education environments facilitated adjustment, particularly where prior developmental experiences had fostered readiness and adaptability. Study 3 assessed the feasibility of implementing an organisational change intervention focused on whole person development within a girls’ field hockey environment. The intervention was partiallyfeasible, but limited by structural constraints, leadership engagement, and competing performance demands. Study 4 built on these insights, implementing a revised intervention within a swimming environment. Here, greater staff alignment, athlete buy-in, and embedded delivery enabled more consistent integration of whole person development into daily practice.Collectively, the thesis provides empirical insight into how whole person development is understood, experienced, and operationalised within sport schools, offering practical and conceptual contributions to research and applied practice in youth sport environments.
published_date 2025-09-24T05:32:13Z
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score 11.089386

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