Presentation
Youth Sport Coaches’ and Administrators’ Perspectives on Coaching Education
Society of Health and Physical Educators
(2015)
Abstract
Background/Purpose: There is evidence to suggest that coaches who participate in formal coaching education programs have athletes who report more positive experiences playing sport than coaches who do not participate in these kinds of programs (Barnett, Smith, & Smoll, 1992). Coaches also obtain and use knowledge from a variety of sources (Erickson et al., 2008; Lemyre, Trudel, & Durand-Bush, 2007; Wiersma & Sherman, 2005). Erickson and colleagues (2008) recommend the identification and assessment of those sources used by coaches in order to structure coaching education. The purpose of this study was to assess the educational needs of youth sport coaches, by identifying sources of knowledge coaches’ use, and to evaluate the usefulness of that knowledge. This study extends the literature by including viewpoints of sport organization administrators to determine the need for coaching education, to identify the level of support and amount of resources currently available to coaches within their organizations. Method: Coaches and administrators of youth sport organizations in an Idaho metropolitan area were recruited to complete an anonymous online survey. Coaches were asked at most, 50 questions, while administrators were asked at most 37 questions. Coaches were asked to identify and evaluate the sources of information used to inform their coaching. Administrators were asked the need for coaches in their organization to update their skills through coaching education. Participant Demographics: Participants represented over 20 individual and team sports in the scholastic and non-scholastic settings, working with children between the ages of 3-17 yrs. The average age of coaches was 40.5 yrs (SD = 12.1, n = 202), and administrators were 41.9 yrs (SD = 12.3yrs; n = 38). A large percentage of participants surveyed were Caucasian, male, and had more than five years experience in their specific role. Results: A majority of coaches reported using their previous playing experience (81.2%), watching the sport they coach on T.V. or in person (82.2%), observing other coaches (82.2%), and talking with other coaches (82.7%) as other sources used to inform their coaching. Only 33.2% of the coaches reported formal coaching education as a source of information. A majority of administrators (81.6%) felt coaches in their organization needed to update or obtain new skills, while 50% of administrators felt they would likely to very likely require or recommend coaching education within the next 3yrs. Conclusion: Findings from this study provide insight into the specific needs of the population surveyed which can further provide assistance when designing coaching education programs to meet the needs of both the coaches and the administrators.
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring March 15, 2015
Citation Information
Laura J Petranek and Nicole D. Bolter. "Youth Sport Coaches’ and Administrators’ Perspectives on Coaching Education" Society of Health and Physical Educators (2015) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/laura_jonespetranek/15/