High-Performance Sport in a Developing Country Through the Lens of Coaches and Sports Directors

This study investigates the perceptions of high-performance coaches (HPC) and high-15 performance directors (HPD) in Colombia, aiming to identify factors affecting elite sport 16 development in a developing country context. In contrast to well-resourced nations where elite 17 sport programs thrive due to robust policies and investments, developing countries face 18 unique challenges, such as limited resources and governance issues, which hinder the growth 19 of high-performance sport. 20Participants (n=42) included Colombian HPCs and HPDs with experience coaching 21 athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic levels. Data were collected through two structured 22 questionnaires: SUMA, which assessed the availability of support mechanisms for coaches, and 23 PERFS, which measured the significance of various factors in achieving elite-level results. 24 Descriptive analysis was applied to quantify responses, and a factorial analysis was conducted 25 to identify key elements that contribute to success in high-performance sports. 26A descriptive analysis of the SUMA questionnaire revealed an overall positive response 27 rate of 9.14 ± 2.98 out of 20. The group-based breakdown showed averages of 9.64 ± 2.9 for 28 HPD, 8.43 ± 3.9 for HPCc, and 9.36 ± 1.78 for HPCp, indicating that over 50% of the factors 29 identified by developed countries as critical for high-performance success are perceived as 30 weaknesses in Colombia’s system. No significant differences were found between the three 31 groups' responses (F (2,39) = 0.622; p = 0.542), suggesting that existing conditions limit the 32 potential of HPCs to fully support their athletes. The PERFS questionnaire further emphasized 33 that financial support from the government (Q1) had the most significant impact on 34 international competition outcomes, while physical education policies (Q5) had the least. 35 ANOVA analysis revealed significant differences between the groups (F (2, 474) = 9.510, p = 36 0.001), with HPD showing a more favorable perception of the factors contributing to success at 37 international competitions compared to HPCc and HPCp. 38Factor analysis identified five performance factors: Process, Technical and Social 39 Support, Structure of Sports Policies, Competition Level, and Contractual Conditions, explaining 40 70.88% of the total variance. The study underscores the importance of a structured coach 41 education and certification system, highlighting gaps in financial support, infrastructure, and 42 policies, particularly regarding youth athlete development and physical education programs. It 43 suggests that while the financial backing for elite coaches is present, support for developmental 44 coaches remains insufficient. 45In conclusion, the study offers valuable insights into the limitations and opportunities 46 within the high-performance sports system in Colombia, advocating for strategic improvements 47 in governance, policy development, and resource allocation to foster long-term success.