Better together: How co-creation is shaping the future of elite sport

A groundbreaking study led by the University of Wolverhampton, in collaboration with visiting scholar and Olympic medallist Yoko Tanabe from Nihon University, has revealed striking differences in how UK judo athletes and their coaches view what matters most for performance and how confident they feel in those areas.

Working alongside Tanabe, one of Japan’s most respected figures in judo, the research team uncovered mismatches in perceptions around psychological preparation, athlete–coach relationships, and other key factors. These findings point to the need for a more collaborative approach to athlete development what researchers call “co-construction,” where athletes and coaches actively work together to design training and support tailored to the individual.

The study surveyed 97 athletes and 61 coaches from both elite and non-elite levels, using a 30-item measure based on the UK Coaching Framework (2009). It explored how participants rated both the importance of and their confidence in five key areas: physical development, self-understanding, psychological preparation, relationships, and skills.

Key Findings from the Study:

• Different Views, Shared Goals: Athletes and coaches showed clear differences in how they rated the importance of and their confidence in key areas such as psychological preparation, relationships, skills, and self-understanding. This points to a disconnect in priorities that could impact performance.
• Gender-Based Differences: Responses also varied by gender, particularly in relation to physical development, skills, and self-understanding. These findings highlight the need for support strategies that better reflect the specific needs of male and female athletes.
• What Athletes and Coaches Value: In interviews, athletes consistently highlighted the importance of supportive coaching in boosting their self-confidence. Coaches, meanwhile, stressed the need to better understand individual athletes in order to tailor training more effectively.
• The Case for Co-Creation: Across the board, both groups emphasised how personal experiences and needs shape perceptions of performance. This supports the study’s main conclusion that performance planning works best when athletes and coaches co-create their training and development strategies together.

The University of Wolverhampton hosts the British Judo Olympic and Paralympic National Training Centre at its Walsall Campus, a clear reflection of its commitment to elite sport and cutting-edge sports science. This unique partnership provides a fully integrated, inclusive high-performance environment where Junior, Paralympic, and Olympic-level judoka train side by side.

Athletes benefit from access to a state-of-the-art dojo, strength and conditioning facilities, sports science and medical support, educational programmes, and on-site accommodation all on one campus. It’s an environment where research and practice go hand in hand, enabling evidence-based insights to directly shape athlete development and performance at the highest level.

"Our research clearly shows that a 'one-size-fits-all' approach isn't sufficient in elite judo," says Professor Andrew Lane, from the School of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton. "When coaches and athletes are not fully aligned on what matters most or where confidence lies it can create hidden barriers to performance. These findings offer a clear roadmap for British Judo and other sports organisations to foster more collaborative, personalised development environments."

The study highlights that while traditional, top-down coaching can still be effective, involving athletes in shaping their own development pathways leads to stronger buy-in, greater motivation, and more sustainable performance gains. Athletes bring unique, lived expertise their perspectives are essential. When training and support are built with them, not just for them, interventions become more relevant, impactful, and supportive of both mental well-being and competitive success.

These insights are particularly relevant for national governing bodies and organisations like UK Sport, which guide the strategic development of Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. Adopting co-construction principles ensures that scientific findings are translated into practical strategies tailored to the evolving needs of judokas.

Ultimately, this study provides a robust, evidence-based foundation for strengthening athlete–coach partnerships and advancing the future of British judo on the world stage.

The full paper is available at:  Co-constructing confidence and performance: A study of athlete-coach beliefs in elite judo

Note

The British Judo Olympic and Paralympic National Training Centre (NTC) is the home of the British Judo World-Class Performance Programme (WCPP).