Coach Training Within the Covid-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Potential Pathways.

Fernando Santos,António Cardoso,Paulo Pereira,Leisha Strachan

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.570706

Abstract

In this article we aim to provide insights about the challenges stakeholders in Portugal and across the globe may face throughout the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic to reorganize coach training programs and suggest strategies to help coaches learn. Such reflection may help stakeholders across socio-cultural contexts consider the consequences of the changes made to coach training programs, the rationale for these decisions and the need to acknowledge existent challenges such as lower course completion rates, pressures to deliver the curriculum and dilemmatic decisions about course format. Furthermore, we also suggest pathways for stakeholders to develop strategies that consider contextual variables and contribute to meaningful learning. Based on the Portuguese context, several issues are discussed.

Highlights

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic presents multiple social challenges such as confinement, social isolation, distance learning, and an increased dependence on technology (Basilaia and Kvavadze, 2020; Mishra et al, 2020)
Universities and polytechnic institutes deal with many of the repercussions associated to the Covid-19 pandemic and have made multiple efforts to reorganize their curriculum and offer candidate youth sport coaches meaningful learning opportunities
Considering the diverse ways coach training is delivered across the globe and the constraints posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, there is still the need to prepare youth sport coaches for the increasingly challenging task of helping youth learn values, life skills and sport-specific skills

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic presents multiple social challenges such as confinement, social isolation, distance learning, and an increased dependence on technology (Basilaia and Kvavadze, 2020; Mishra et al, 2020). Universities and polytechnic institutes deal with many of the repercussions associated to the Covid-19 pandemic and have made multiple efforts to reorganize their curriculum and offer candidate youth sport coaches meaningful learning opportunities These efforts come with several challenges, dilemmatic decisions, as well as both positive and negative consequences. Considering the diverse ways coach training is delivered across the globe and the constraints posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, there is still the need to prepare youth sport coaches for the increasingly challenging task of helping youth learn values, life skills and sport-specific skills Such mandate is not flexible and requires that all universities and polytechnic institutes thrive to set standards that may help candidate coaches become prepared fortheir future roles and responsibilities. These reflections do not represent guidelines or recommendations for coach development systems, but instead reflexive questions that need to be posed moving forward

PATHWAYS FOR BECOMING A COACH

Asynchronous and Synchronous Course Formats

Prioritizing Learning Instead of Delivering

CONCLUSION

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS