A profile of mini rugby coaches in the Western Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

A coach and a coaching process that offers a supportive learning environment and appropriate levels of challenge, and that engenders a passion for the sport can produce positive and productive sporting outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine a profile of mini rugby coaches in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Mini rugby coaches (N = 91) completed a 15-item questionnaire to obtain descriptive information about the coaches, as well as their perceptions about their ability and confidence to coach mini rugby. The results indicate that a significant number of coaches did not have any experience in playing rugby (32%) or coaching mini rugby (19%), and the majority of coaches (51%) did not have any form of rugby coaching education. The results also show that a significant number of the coaches did not feel efficacious in coaching mini rugby (23%) and did not believe that they were optimally developing the skills of the mini rugby players (29%). The findings from the current study highlight an unfavourable situation where untrained and inexperienced individuals coach mini rugby, which has important practical implications for rugby administrators, developers of coaching education courses, players, as well as the game itself. One recommendation to remedy this situation would be that all coaches must be educated to coach rugby. A coaching education course designed specifically for mini rugby will aid in preparing individuals to successfully coach mini rugby. The content and structure of coaching education courses also need to be reviewed to ensure it is pertinent to the coaches’ needs.