Table 3. Representation of the meaningful and coherent views of world-class Caribbean track and field athletes in relation to their developmental experiences during childhood and adolescence.

SUPERORDINATE THEME	HIGHER ORDER THEME	LOWER ORDER THEME	RAW DATA THEME
CONDUCIVE SPORTING ENVIRONMENT	Training mode	‘Play for fun’	Fun, no pressure to win No training structure, multi-sport participation
		‘Serious work’	Serious, goal oriented Structured training, increased training volume and intensity Difficulty adjusting to transition Increased time commitment
	Competition mode	‘Fun and Games’	Bush games/village sport participation, extrinsically motivated (prizes)
		‘Compete to win’	Competitive mind-set, increased pressure to win Difficulty adapting to high-competitive environment Competition defeat as motivation
		‘Eye-opener’	International competition as eye-opener
FUNCTIONAL SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORK	Family influence	Family involvement	Parent proactiveness Family support (emotional, financial, physical)
		Family sporting history	Rich family sporting history Parent sporting background as incentive
	Coach influence	Leadership qualities	Coach belief and support Coach as mentor
		Coach-athlete relationship	Liking and trust (closeness) Father-mother figure / friend Increased reliance on support from coach
	Peer motivation	Peer rivalry	Motivation to compete with peers
		Peer camaraderie	Socialize with like-minded peers Increased reliance on support from significant other, teammates
KEY ORGANIZATIONAL INPUT	Talent recruitment	Recruiter	Early talent identification (teacher, coach, parent)
	Industry support	Industry support	Support through national federations, sporting scholarships, professional contracts, Financial, educational, facilities, equipment etc.