Exploring challenges, support and structural barriers in Irish elite youth basketball: Perspectives from athletes and their support networks

While research on elite athlete wellbeing has grown considerably, less attention has been paid to how support is structured and experienced within smaller, under-resourced national sporting ecosystems. Social support appears imperative to high-performance athlete wellbeing, yet structural and relational factors shaping its provision remain understudied in non-Olympic sporting contexts. This study investigated how athletes on Ireland’s underage national basketball teams perceive and construe their experiences of social support and challenges, and how support network members perceived challenges and barriers to providing better support. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 athletes on underage national basketball teams, and 10 support network members. Themes were identified and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Logistical and emotional support from parents were perceived as particularly important by both groups, as was support from people who could relate to the challenges of elite sport. Most athletes believed they lacked the requisite psychological skills to cope in unfamiliar competition environments. Limited emphasis on mental wellbeing in Irish elite sporting environments and social media were viewed as frequent stressors. These findings have clear implications for sport psychology practitioners, coaches and governing bodies seeking to develop contextually sensitive, ecologically informed approaches to supporting elite youth athlete wellbeing. Irish elite youth basketball players face significant psychological pressures related to selection, stigma around displaying vulnerability, social media scrutiny and limited structural support. These are amplified by organizational constraints and performance-focused cultures. Athletes rely heavily on parents and peers, but support quality varies, underscoring the need for systemic wellbeing approaches. Governing bodies must examine how organizational practices (e.g., selection processes, public announcements) shape athlete wellbeing, ensuring policies minimize unnecessary psychological harm.Investment in accessible psychological services and coach education is critical, alongside supporting parents as central members of the athlete support system within under-resourced environments. Governing bodies must examine how organizational practices (e.g., selection processes, public announcements) shape athlete wellbeing, ensuring policies minimize unnecessary psychological harm. Investment in accessible psychological services and coach education is critical, alongside supporting parents as central members of the athlete support system within under-resourced environments.