Examining the Experiences of Peer Mentored Athletes Competing in Elite Sport
in The Sport PsychologistClick name to view affiliation
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The general objective of the current study was to explore the experiences of elite level athletes who reported being peer mentored by other athletes during their sporting careers. The primary purpose was to identify the mentoring functions provided by athlete mentors, while the secondary purpose was to examine the outcomes related to peer mentored athletes’ (i.e., protégés) mentoring experiences. Individual interviews were conducted with 14 elite peer mentored athletes, and the data were analyzed using a hierarchical content analysis. The results indicated that athlete mentors provided a variety of specific functions that facilitated protégés’ progression through sport and development from a personal standpoint. The findings also showed that protégés benefitted in terms of enhanced performance and confidence, and also demonstrated a willingness to provide mentorship to their peers. In sum, the results of the current study may be used to enhance the effectiveness of peer mentoring relationships between athletes.
Hoffmann and Loughead are with the Dept. of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Bloom is with the Dept. of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
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