Title: Enhancing the Well-Being of Elite Sport Performers Operating in High Performance Environments
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: The overall aim of my proposed Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Fellowship is to develop an evidence-based approach to enhancing well-being in elite sport performers operating in high performance environments. This will enable me to consolidate my doctoral research, build my publication track record, and establish myself as a research leader in the field. My objectives are to: Submit four manuscripts for publication in high quality peer-reviewed journals in the field of sport psychology and sport and exercise sciences (i.e. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology). Two manuscripts will be based on chapters from my doctoral thesis where I will be lead author, co-authors will include academics from Loughborough University (Dr D Fletcher) and external institutions (Dr R Arnold, University of Bath and Dr D Brown, University of Portsmouth) and key industry stakeholders (Dr A Ashfield, Ms J Harrison, the English Institute of Sport). One manuscript will be based on a pilot study (proposed limited research to underpin a research grant application) co-authored by academics from Loughborough University and external collaborators (involved in the Safe Sport International Research and Evidence Advisory Group and International Safeguards Working Group). One co-authored manuscript is based on collaborative work with an external academic research group (Dr D Brown and colleagues at the University of Portsmouth) Establish partnerships with external research institutions in the United Kingdom (i.e. University of Bath and University of Portsmouth) focused on submitting two meta-analysis studies in this field (as part of the 4 manuscripts), published with leading academics from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University and beyond Build and internationalise my network to maximise the impact of research findings. Engage through Dr D Rhind's and Dr D Fletcher's strong links with international organisations and associations (i.e. Centre for Sport and Human Rights, FIFA, the International Olympic Committee [IOC]) on existing projects that have clear synergies with my doctoral research (e.g. Dr D Rhind's work with FIFA on promoting the well-being of elite young footballers) Collaborate with national and international academics and key stakeholders in sport globally to develop a large funding application focused on athlete well-being worldwide. Dr D Rhind is a leader in key international networks related to safeguarding in sport. Specifically, there are clear links with world renowned academics through the Safe Sport International Research and Evidence Advisory Group (e.g. Prof G Kerr; Prof K Kauffman; Prof K Mori; Dr A Brady). Networks of key practitioners are also accessible through the International Safeguards Working Group (including representatives from FIFA, IOC, Safe Sport International, UNICEF, Commonwealth Secretariat, World Players Association). Therefore, I will be able to engage with meetings of these groups which would help to substantially grow my networks, providing the multi-disciplinary collaborators required to develop a large funding application Form an expert advisory panel (impact group) focused on developing an evidence-based approach to enhance athletes' well-being and recommendations for implementing interventions in elite sport Present my research at peer-reviewed national and international conferences (e.g. DSEP, 2021) to receive valuable feedback, further the visibility of my research, and build and maintain research networks Build my expertise in tendering for research grant and funding applications by attending high quality training sessions at Loughborough University and the National Centre for Research Methods and acquiring experience. In turn, increase my capability to lead and successfully bid for funding opportunities (i.e. ESRC New Investigator grant and Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships)

Lay abstract: In the United Kingdom, approximately 1,300 athletes are enrolled in the World Class Programme (UK Sport, 2018). At a global level, the World Players Association union includes over 85,000 athlete members. Athletes train and compete within complex organisational structures that have a collective ethical and legal obligation to safeguard athletes' welfare (Giles, Fletcher, Arnold, Ashfield, & Harrison, 2020). This duty of care extends beyond athletes' physical health to include their mental and social well-being and is perhaps most needed in elite level sport, where an insatiable need for success can be at odds with living a balanced lifestyle. Sport scholars, psychologists, practitioners, organisations, and policy makers are increasingly invested in supporting the quest to optimise athletes' health and well-being in elite sport and there is a need to strengthen the evidence-base underpinning their work. Working collaboratively with Loughborough University, University of Bath, and the English Institute of Sport my doctoral research investigated the nature of athletes' well-being and its measurement in elite sport through a series of studies. These provided: (1) recommendations for progressing the measurement of athletes' well-being; (2) a model of athletes' well-being; (3) knowledge about the predictors of athletes' well-being; and (4) a diagnostic tool to assess well-being in athletes. Yet the lack of interventions purposefully developed in sport in relation to athletes' well-being is halting progress in the sport sector (e.g. Fletcher & Sarkar, 2016; Giles, 2021). The aim of my proposed Fellowship is to produce an evidence-based approach to enhancing athletes' well-being in elite sport. This will enable me to take part in activities to consolidate my doctoral research, build a publication track record, and establish myself as a research leader in the field. This will involve: (1) publishing high quality research articles that extend insight into the ways that enhance athletes' well-being with leading lights from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University and beyond; (2) establishing partnerships with leading research institutions in the United Kingdom (i.e. University of Bath and University of Portsmouth) focused on publishing two significant review articles in this field; (3) building relationships with key stakeholders in the sport sector through links at Loughborough University with an international network of organisations and associations (e.g. the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, FIFA, International Olympic Committee) to share research findings and maximise impact; (4) collaborating with national and international academics (e.g. Prof G Kerr; Prof K Kauffman; Prof K Mori; Dr A Brady) and key stakeholders (e.g. representatives from FIFA, IOC, Safe Sport International, UNICEF, Commonwealth Secretariat, World Players Association) in sport globally to conduct a pilot research study and develop a large funding application focused on athlete well-being worldwide; (5) forming an expert advisory panel (impact panel) focused on producing an intervention framework and recommendations for best practice, and identifying pathways to communicate research findings to key industry stakeholders and groups; (6) presenting my research at national and international conferences; and (7) attending high quality training seminars at Loughborough University and the National Centre for Research Methods to enhance my capability to successfully bid for funding opportunities. In summary, the proposed Fellowship activities and research will consolidate and extend my doctoral research and enable me to establish myself as a research leader in the field of athlete well-being. Significantly, the proposed Fellowship outputs will positively impact the lives of sport performers worldwide and shape how sport puts people - their safety, well-being, and welfare - at the centre of what sport does (Grey-Thompson, 2017).

Research activity codes: 1.2 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC PROCESSES;1.4 METHODOLOGIES AND MEASUREMENTS
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE