When less is more: The road to the National Hockey League for a collection of Danish athletes
Translated title
Når mindre er mere: Vejen til NHL for en gruppe af danske atleter
Authors
Aggerholm, Anders Wirth ; Bendorff, Daniel Kim Schack
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2021
Submitted on
2021-01-04
Pages
88
Abstract
Research on how athletes develop often asks whether young people should try multiple sports or specialize early, and it emphasizes the importance of context. This case study examined the childhood and teenage conditions that contributed to the development of five Danish National Hockey League (NHL) players born in 1989. We used a qualitative approach with semi-structured, in-depth interviews and interpreted the material through a developmental framework that looks at how experiences over time shape progress. The players grew up during a period of growth in Danish ice hockey, which influenced the entire hockey community. They were surrounded by strong, supportive relationships in their families and local hockey circles. Coaches helped them thrive despite limited local resources by allowing them to practice with older or more skilled players and to play many games. The Swedish hockey gymnasium—a specialized high-school program focused on ice hockey—provided a rich environment for development and served as a stepping-stone before the NHL. Overall, the players made the most of available opportunities within a rising hockey environment. This study offers detailed insight into the conditions behind a cohort of Danish NHL players born in 1989.
Forskning i talentudvikling diskuterer ofte, om unge atleter bør afprøve flere sportsgrene eller specialisere sig tidligt, og understreger betydningen af den sammenhæng, de indgår i. Dette casestudie undersøgte, hvilke vilkår i barndom og ungdom der bidrog til udviklingen af fem danske NHL-spillere født i 1989. Vi anvendte en kvalitativ tilgang med semistrukturerede, dybdegående interviews og fortolkede materialet gennem en udviklingsramme, der ser på, hvordan erfaringer over tid former progression. Spillerne voksede op i en periode, hvor dansk ishockey var i fremgang, hvilket prægede hele ishockeymiljøet. De var omgivet af stærke, støttende relationer i familien og i det lokale ishockeyfællesskab. Trænerne gjorde det muligt for dem at trives trods begrænsede lokale ressourcer ved at lade dem træne opad (med ældre eller dygtigere spillere) og spille mange kampe. Det svenske hockeygymnasium – en specialiseret ungdomsuddannelse med fokus på ishockey – tilbød et rigt udviklingsmiljø og fungerede som et trin på vejen til NHL. Samlet set udnyttede spillerne de muligheder, der opstod, i samspil med et voksende ishockeymiljø. Studiet giver dyb indsigt i vilkårene for en gruppe danske NHL-spillere født i 1989.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords