Effectiveness and contribution of the Ethiopian Sport Academy (ESA) to Ethiopian National Athletics Team

Abstract

ESA has been taking the lions’ share in shaping the success of the Ethiopian Athletics National Team through nurturing talent, providing  specialized coaching, leveraging altitude benefits, fostering group dynamics, aligning with cultural norms, and producing remarkable  success stories on the Ethiopian athletics. This study was focused to assess the effectiveness and contribution of ESA to the Ethiopian  National Athletics National Team. The study used mixed-methods approach research design. ESA has (N = 2) campuses and sampled  athletes (n = 222) were selected using proportional sampling technique. Outcome variable of the study was contribution of the athletes to  the Ethiopian national athletics team. Predictor variable was effectiveness of ESA. The primary data collection instruments such as standardized questionnaire, semi-structured interview, and focus group discussion was piloted and administered to the athletes. SPSS  and Nvivo software’s used to process quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Structural Equation modelling (ESA) was used to  analyse effectiveness of sport academy. The result of the study shows that skilled workforce, stability, availability of information,  productivity, plans, resources and flexibility significantly contribution to the effectiveness of sport academy at p < 0.05. The effectiveness  of ESA enables them to produce world class middle and long distance runners to the Olympic level. However, there are remaining works  on short distance, jumping and throwing events. The study recommends ESA management to produce sprinters, jumpers and throwers aligning with their sport nutrition as well as hire professionals like f physiotherapist and sport psychologist.