Sport context scenario
Background:
A junior International competitive Track Cyclist has recently experienced a period of injury (quadriceps tear) and has been unable to compete for the previous year. The athlete cycles competitively in both individual and team pursuit events and is part of British Cycling talent pathway.
They are concerned that they might be able to meet the criteria for selection into Senior British Cycling pathway next year, after several successful years of selection in the Junior.
The performance selection criteria are outlined below:
- Race performance and results in the last 3 years
- Testing and camp data that supports riders being on a trajectory or meeting the consideration benchmarks
- Subjective analysis by the existing coach against agreed criteria which has been built by the selected coach and agreed by the discipline lead and the Performance Pathway Manager
- The athlete has reported feelings of frustration with their rehabilitation progress, persistent/chronic anxiety (symptoms of catastrophizing and over-thinking about future progress and performance). The athlete has a supportive network and the family close by.
You are working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in British Cycling. The team includes a sport psychologist, physiologist, nutritionist and performance & lifestyle support lead.
You are tasked with providing a report on primary research data that could help the team develop a psycho-physiological assessment protocol to better understand the athlete’s current needs, support his return to competitive cycling and his selection for the senior Cycling pathway.