PhD Study : Skill proficiency and well-being in age-group swimmers

Summary

Background: Competitive swimming has been synonymous with high volumes of training that require swimmers to participate in multiple daily sessions lasting several hours at a time, typically during ‘unsociable’ hours. Regardless of the swimmer’s race event, coaches have traditionally programmed their sessions based on total ‘yardage’ completed. Whereas there have been some recent movements away from this traditional approach, it is still accepted to assess swimmers’ efforts and quality of training as the “number of hours spent in the pool” and/or the “total yardage completed at the end of a weekly cycle”. It should be stated that these trends are evident across all skill-levels in competitive swimming.

As a result, it has been suggested that these long gruelling sessions tend to elicit three key negative factors: 1.They have neglected the advancement of technical proficiency across a range of skills. 2.Due to the nature of swim training, there is evidence to suggest that swimmers experience bouts of loneliness, mood swings, lack of self-worth and low levels of motivation. All of which can have an increasingly negative affect on athlete mental well-being. 3.As a consequence of the high training volumes, swimmers have been reported as burning out and permanently withdrawing from swimming. It is essential that overtraining and burnout in age group swimmers is avoided to assist long term athlete engagement in swimming and the positive physical and psychological outcomes that sport engagement encourages.

Aims of the project:

1.Numerous studies have assessed various aquatic skills across age-group swimmers from a global context. This study will be the first of its kind as it will examine the technical proficiencies of Irish age-group swimmers.

2.This study will investigate whether the coach created motivational climate influences swimmer’s well-being, motivation and levels of burnout.

3.To clarify whether the volume of training and swimmer’s well-being is associated with the swimmer’s skill proficiency.

Methods to be used: 1.The successful applicant will have to perform a systematic review of the literature to establish an appropriate range of aquatic skill-based tests. 2.Create an appropriate mixed methods research design to explore athlete well-being, motivation, burnout, and coach created motivational climate. 3.Correlate the magnitude of aquatic skill proficiency with psychological constructs.

Skills required of the participant: The successful applicant should have a good knowledge of biomechanics and experimental issues. Knowledge or experience within aquatics is desirable. Previous experience in undertaking biomechanical/ performance analysis based assessments is important, as is the experience of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively through oral and written means is also a desirable quality.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Publications - peer-reviewed
• Publications record appropriate to career stage
• Experience of presentation of research findings
• Use of personal initiative as evidenced by record of work above that normally expected at career stage.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living