Student dissertation. Need help!

Hi everyone,
My names Alex I am currently in my last year of Stirling University. I am doing a dissertation surrounding the dropout problem within Scottish snow sport talent programmes and need to interview individuals who were once involved in training camps/ programmes or dedicated to developing their talents but had to drop out for various reasons.
To gather the data I need, I need to conduct 15/20 minute interviews asking about their social background and the values they have for the sport. I'm looking for around 6 dropout athletes and 6 still involved. The dropout individual can be of any age but those still involved would ideally be between 12-16. Depending on your location I could possibly send the questionnaire as long as detailed explanations were given as answers.

If you can help me in any way it would mean a great deal to me. It will not take much of your time and could possibly give a more comprehensive understanding of how to keep our young athletes committed to training.
Please help if you can.

Kind regards
Alex

I don't qualify but I do wish you well with this Alex - sounds like exactly the sort of thing we need to help keep people in sports

Thanks anyway! If you know anyone who may qualify please let me know. I think it's a problem we do need to tackle.

Hi Alex,

Not directly involved in the kind of programme you are looking at. If you contact Konrad Bartelski or Peter Baker, they may put you on to the right people.

One issue in Scotland that affects all young skiers, is that there are no February holidays, (at least not here in the East of Scotland). So, young skiers are restricted to weekend activity.

Many British International skiers question the UK management set up. A lot of young UK ski racers train in France and Austria. Here in Niederau, apart from the normal area Race Club, we have a private race club, run by the English operators of one of the hotels. Some children stay for a few weeks, some for most of the season. They participate in training, racing, are given school work, become fluent in German, and many take up other local skills, such as playing music.

This kind of private set up is replicated throughout the alps.

Ok thank you, I will try getting in touch with them.

Yeah there are many reasons. Im more focusing on the social upbringing of the individual such as significant others, opportunities, social identity and how the minority profile of the sport may damage their peer relationships but your right, holidays are an issue.
Thanks again.

Alex