Quantitative assessment of facilitators and barriers to using external coaches in school-based extracurricular sports activities

Abstract

School-based extracurricular sports activities contribute to positive youths’ development. However, they are difficult to manage without the use of external coaches. The number of external coaches available and in use is currently insufficient, indicating that further recruitment is essential. The present study examined facilitators and barriers to the use of external coaches in school-based extracurricular sports activities, and whether any differences exist in the importance of these factors between teachers who do and do not use external coaches. A cross-sectional self-administrated questionnaire was provided to 1,880 teachers and the percentage agreement with each facilitator and barrier as applicable to their decision to use an external coach was determined. Data were received from 253 teachers. For 39/50 facilitators and 17/45 barriers, more than 50% of teachers considered the items to be applicable. There were 17 facilitators that had a significantly high rate of response in teachers who currently use an external coach. Teachers who do not use external coaches were significantly more likely to report barriers to be applicable than their counterparts that do use external coaches for 27/45 of the items. Revising recruitment strategies to reflect these important influencing factors would be an effective way to promote further recruitment of external coaches. Key words: Extracurricular activities, human resource management, mixed methods approach, physical education, volunteer.