Walking on the Edge – Youth development for top performance; pedagogical, social and ethical issues

Abstract

Problem statement: This article reviews the dilemmas, costs, and benefits of raising young athletes in the framework of a boarding school, away from home and their familiar neighborhood. Purpose: The challenges discussed focus on lessons learned from assessing 12 years (2005-2017) of management at the Wingate Academy of Sports Excellence (WASE) in Israel. Approach: The article relies upon the firsthand experience of the first two authors, who held key positions at The Wingate Institute and the WASE, respectively. We believe that using a qualitative approach enables the identification of meanings, insights and significant conjunctions for the research questions discussed in this specific case. The study raises two main conflictual and moral themes: Theme 1: The Military Ethos, i.e.athletic career versus meaningful military service; this theme is relevant to young talented athletes at the WASE and present a unique cultural ethos for the Israeli society. Theme 2: No Pain- No Gain,i.e. theethical and moral dilemma of an injured athlete and the professional team. It reviews the philosophy as well as pedagogical, managerial and moral decisions taken by the managerial and professional staff of the WASE, often on the background of dis-accordance between stakeholders: the Ministry of Sport, National Sport Federations, theMinistry of Education, all of them who envelop the athletes along the journey to the top. The article points to the importance of our awareness of existing importance to other sport academies world wide.