Athletic Coaches Research Articles

Who Coaches the Coaches? Exploring the Biographies of Novice Athletics Coach Education Tutors

Despite coach education being a focus of academic inquiry for over 20 years, coach developers (e.g., tutors) have been neglected from the literature until recently. In recognizing and understanding the role of the tutor in delivering quality learning programs for sport coaches, it is also important to consider who tutors are and how biographical factors influence their development toward expertise. This article utilizes Grenier and Kehrhahn’s Model of Expertise Redevelopment as a tool to aid understanding of the transition from sport coaching to tutoring. Narrative interviews were used with seven novice athletics coach education tutors embarking on a “fast-track” tutor development program. Data were subject to narrative thematic analysis and presented as composite vignettes. The vignettes portray six common themes highlighting that becoming a coach education tutor is a lifelong process of episodic experiences. The features of novice tutors’ biographies are a useful starting point in evidencing the development of expertise. These findings could be used to inform tutor recruitment and training. The current study adds to the emerging body of literature by providing one of the first empirical accounts exploring the developmental experiences of novice coach education tutors.

CPR Knowledge and Skill Retention Among NCAA Division III Athletic Coaches: A Prospective Cohort Study

CPR Knowledge and Skill Retention Among NCAA Division III Athletic Coaches: A Prospective Cohort Study

A Brief Review of the Efficacy in Artificial Intelligence and Chatbot-Generated Personalized Fitness Regimens

ABSTRACT Artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbot technologies have rapidly emerged with promising applications in public health, including developing personal lifestyles and exercise routines. This article examines the effectiveness of AI-based chatbot platforms to generate personalized exercise regimens. Chatbots are freely accessible to users with Internet access and may be more cost-effective than a personal trainer. This review highlights multiple examples of AI being used to offer fitness advice, supplement athletic coaching, and create everyday exercise routines. The results of these studies demonstrate a positive outlook on using AI for strength and conditioning applications, for personal and professional use. Despite having the potential to replace personal fitness trainers for everyday users and athletes alike, more extensive research should be performed using AI combined with physicians, personal trainers, and nutritionists to determine areas where AI can be further optimized. More research focusing on the effectiveness of AI-generated routines for the everyday user may further validate the potential for chatbot-mediated exercise. This brief review aims to evaluate the efficacy of AI-generated personalized fitness regimens, emphasizing physical fitness, athletic performance, and overall physical and mental well-being. The video abstract for this article can be found in the video SDC 1.

Studying the level of visionary leadership of the Athletics Federation from coaches’ point of view

Environmental changes are forcing the sports leaders to cope with by monitoring changes, creating a future vision for the sports organization’s objectives, and working to deliver them to the followers in their capacity as implementers of the leader’s thought, especially since the human element is the most important resource of the organization’s resources that contributes so as to achieve its objectives. It is important to have leaders who have a clear vision of the objectives of the sports organization and the behavior of the individuals with whom it deals with, especially since behavior is difficult to control because it is affected by emotions and feelings. The effective leader is the one who can move the behavior of the followers towards performing the work entrusted to them with high efficiency. Visionary leadership has become a prerequisite for making good decisions. The importance of the research lies in addressing the topic of visionary leadership, which is relatively new in administrative thought in general, and accompanying it as a leadership for the members of the Athletics Federation. The research aims to identify the level of visionary leadership in the Athletics Federation from the point of view of the coaches. The researchers used the descriptive method with the survey method. The research community consisted of athletics coaches. They numbered (178) coaches. The researcher chose (100) coaches to represent the sample. The researcher concluded that there is a visionary leadership for the Iraqi Athletics Federation, but in a somewhat moderate manner, and that the presidents and members of the Iraqi Athletics Federation need to have a perspective on the future. The researcher recommends strengthening and developing the vision possessed by visionary leaders by holding discussion circles with their colleagues on a topic and searching for new ideas on which to base their new visions.

Coaching styles and sports motivation in athletes with and without Intellectual Impairments.

The cognitive limitations of athletes with Intellectual Impairments (II) may influence their sport behaviour and lead them to rely on coaches' support. However, it is still unclear how II may influence sports performance progression and motivation and how coaches perceive their athletes with II and coach them. Thus, this study aims to examine 1) coach's perceptions of motivation and performance progression in athletes with and without II, 2) coaching style (dis)similarities, and 3) the association between these factors. Coaches of athletes with (n = 122) and without II (n = 144) were recruited and completed three online questionnaires, analysed using a series of non-parametric analyses (p ≤ .05). Results showed that perceived performance progression and controlled motivation were higher of athletes with II while perceived autonomous motivation was higher of athletes without II. No coaching style differences were found between the two groups. Additionally, a need-supportive coaching style negatively predicted amotivation, and a need-thwarting coaching style predicted lower autonomous motivation in athletes with II only. Overall, it seems that the coaches perceived that their athletes with II demonstrate different motivations and react dissimilarly to their coaching styles compared to athletes without II. They may also adopt different standards of sporting success for them. Due to these differences, it is important to offer appropriate training and knowledge to coaches about disability sports and the adaptations needed to effectively coach athletes with II. In summary, this paper gives some insights about the coach-athlete relationship and highlights the necessity to further support the sports development of people with II.

“Mirror, Mirror, Am I as My Coach Sees Me?”: Discrepancy Between Athlete Self-Appraisals and Reflected Appraisals of Their Coach, and Relations With Athlete Burnout

Using a person-centered approach, this study was conducted to identify (a) specific athlete profiles in terms of degree of discrepancy between their self-appraisals and the reflected appraisals of their coach and (b) the relations between these profiles and athlete burnout. Athletes (N = 369; Mage = 21.15 years) fulfilled measures of self-appraisals, reflected appraisals of their coach, and burnout. Latent profile analysis allowed the identification of three profiles: concordance (84%), positive discrepancy (11%), and negative discrepancy (5%). Analyses revealed relationships between athletes’ profile membership and the three dimensions of burnout: emotional and physical exhaustion, sport devaluation, and reduced sense of accomplishment. More specifically, results indicated that athletes with a positive discrepancy profile (i.e., who rated themselves more positively than they think their coaches see them) were more at risk of burnout. This study contributes to existing research on psychosocial determinants of athlete burnout in the context of the coach–athlete relationship.

Preventing Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries in High School Sports Participants: An Executive Summary of the Inaugural Meeting of the National ACL Injury Coalition.

To address the increasing rates of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury among young sports participants, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and the Aspen Institute convened a meeting of a new national coalition to make ACL injury prevention a fundamental aspect of youth sports. This executive summary outlines the National ACL Injury Coalition's goals as defined at its inaugural meeting held at HSS on March 27, 2023. Using a theory of change called "collective impact" designed to support collaboration and drive systems-level change, the coalition focused on 4 strategic priorities intended to reduce ACL injury rates in high school sports participants: widespread implementation of interventions (ensuring that student athletes are adequately trained), high-quality education (raising awareness among many stakeholders), equitable access (ensuring that all high school sports participants, regardless of the resources available at their schools, have access to injury prevention resources), and aligning stakeholders (uniting disparate entities-schools, sports clubs, parents, coaches, and others in these efforts). The group outlined short-range, medium-range, and long-range goals over a 3-year period, including the launch of an ACL injury prevention toolkit for use by adolescent sports participants and teams, athletic trainers, coaches, and other key stakeholders.

Developing the Singapore youth shoulder overuse injury prevention program

ObjectivesTo develop the Singapore Youth Shoulder Overuse Injury Prevention Program specifically for competitive overhead youth athletes in Singapore. DesignTwo-round online Delphi technique with experts and a feasibility assessment questionnaire with youth athletes who represented end-users. SettingVolleyball for youth athletes. ParticipantsExperts were recruited through purposive sampling based on their knowledge and experience. Youth athletes were recruited though a volleyball club. Main outcome measuresThe main outcome measure was the level of consensus on the proposed (1) exercise program for the overhead youth athletes, (2) education program regarding overuse injuries for coaches of overhead youth athletes, and (3) education program regarding overuse injuries for overhead youth athletes. Consensus was set at 75% agreement in this study. ResultsEighteen experts completed the two Delphi rounds with 100% response rate. Consensus was achieved for the exercise program and both education programs. Twelve youth athletes completed the feasibility assessment questionnaire and found the exercises to be feasible in terms of usefulness, practical use, instructions, duration, and ease of execution. ConclusionConsensus was reached for the Singapore Youth Shoulder Overuse Injury Prevention Program, and feasibility of execution by end-users was successfully determined.

Taekwondo sports coaching at Mahameru Club: A basic interpretive study on historical aspects, coaching systems, management resources, and achievement coaching

The Taekwondo sports coaching system necessitates effective organisational management. However, managing a sports organisation unquestionably demands a suitable and accurate concept, one that will ultimately allow the sports organisation to accomplish its objectives. The purpose of this study was to examine the basic interpretation of historical aspects, development systems, management resources, and achievement development. The research method used in this study is qualitative descriptive research, employing a phenomenological research design. The research sample consists of 5 informants, including 1 club founder, 2 club executives, and 2 athlete coaches, selected for direct interviews. Data analysis involves (i) introduction and organization; (ii) coding and reduction; (iii) interpretation and representation. The findings revealed that the coaching system, management resources and Taekwondo achievement development at the Mahameru Club in Sukoharjo Regency were functioning effectively. The limitations of this study are the sample used and the scope of the study which is only one area. As a result, future research should compare and broaden the scope of the study by investigating the factors that influence the implementation of the coaching system, management resources, and achievement development, such as psychological, sociological, and environmental aspects for athletes. The conclusion of this research indicates that this research makes a notable contribution by delving into the uncharted territory of Taekwondo sports coaching at Mahameru Club. It not only fills a knowledge gap but also furnishes practical guidance for the improvement of coaching strategies.

Coaching wellness, health, and success: Leveraging the potential of Black male coaches to promote positive outcomes for Black K-12 students

ABSTRACTWhile there are low percentages of Black males as educators, psychologists, pediatricians, and psychiatrists, Black students are more likely to have a Black male athletic coach. Previous research on the role of Black male coaches has demonstrated that there are several positive outcomes (i.e., academics, social skills, and reducing misbehaviors to deter criminalization) when the racial identity of Black students is matched with a Black coach. Black male coaches are an understudied cultural asset to the Black community. Therefore, this article explores how Black male coaches can be used to accelerate the closure of the opportunity gap by promoting community wellness, health, and academic success for Black youth. The recommendations for policymakers, educators, and school mental health professionals were written in collaboration with a Black male teacher-coach who works in a predominately Black high school setting.

Fat Phobia Among Youth Sport Coaches

Body weight is a common reason youth face stigma, yet it has received little attention from athletic coaches working closely with youth of diverse sizes. The present study assessed weight bias in middle and high school athletic coaches ( N = 320) via a survey of demographic characteristics and explicit weight bias ( Fat Phobia Scale-Short Form). Results indicate moderate levels of bias ( M = 3.44, SD = 0.42), with mean scores slightly lower compared to general community samples, yet higher than other specialized groups, and not varying based on the gender of the coach, the gender of the athletes coached, or the type of sport. Psychometric properties of the Fat Phobia Scale-Short Form were assessed through confirmatory factor analysis, suggesting a one-factor model as too simplistic. Implications for future research on this topic are explored, noting the importance of coaches understanding biases and the implications of bias on coaching practices.

Examining the mental health literacy and challenges to supporting students among regional Philippine teacher education faculty

Mental health has become an increasingly important public health issue as it plays a vital role in modern society. The education sector, for example, has become a common focus of mental health studies as students and teachers are subject to frequent social interactions and academic pressure. To better understand how equipped students and teachers are in addressing mental health-related issues, taking a look at their mental health literacy is essential. In the Philippines, the mental health literacy of teachers remains an untapped area of research yet to be explored and understood. The current study aimed to a) examine the mental health literacy of faculty in a regional Philippine teacher education institution and b) identify the challenges met by the faculty in providing needed help to students with mental health-related issues. A total of forty-four faculty participated in the study and answered a mental health literacy scale. The average mental health literacy score of the overall sample was 114.45. This was found to be relatively higher than the scores of K-12 teachers but relatively lower than the scores of university students, healthcare professionals, athletic coaches and therapists, and members of the community. The challenges met by the respondents in providing needed help to students include lack of self-efficacy, resistance of students, conflicting values with the students, and lack of time. This study has provided evidence on the current mental health literacy level of regional teacher education faculty and the challenges they encounter in supporting students; insights gained from it may inform mental health-related professional development initiatives. Implications and limitations of the findings are discussed.

The roles of Black women principals: evidence from two national surveys

While two-thirds of Black principals are female, the extant research on Black female principals is almost entirely qualitative. Using data from the 2017–2018 National Teacher and Principal Survey (n = 7,170 with 450 Black female principals) and the 2011–2012 Schools and Staffing Survey (n = 7,510, with 360 Black female principals), we quantitatively examine the career paths, reported influence, and reported time use of Black female principals compared to other principals. Black female principals are relatively less likely than Black male principals to have experience as athletic coaches, and less likely to have non-education management experience. Relative to non-Black female principals, Black female principals are less likely to have experience as curriculum directors. Relative to other principals, Black female principals generally report having comparable influence over their schools, while spending somewhat more time on parent interactions, suggestive of roles representing minority parents. We discuss implications and directions for future research.

Dynamics of an Employment Contract in a Sports Transfer

The paper discusses some issues that arise when the employment relationship between athletes (coaches) and sports clubs is terminated in connection with the transfer of athletes (coaches) to other employers. Termination of an employment contract concluded between an athlete (coach) and a sports club is associated with the need to comply not only with the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, but also with the regulations of all-Russian sports federations, which are not identical. Termination of the employment relationship between an employee and an employer may be due to a number of reasons established in the legislation of the Russian Federation, including the expiration of the employment contract or the will of one of its parties to terminate the employment contract early. Early termination of such an employment contract generally takes place together with compensation payments subject to certain conditions (not related to «valid reasons» for termination of employment relations), the establishment of which is carried out by competent authorities in each specific case if there is a controversial situation. An alternative to early termination of the employment contract with an athlete is a temporary transfer of the employee to another employer, which provides ample opportunities for both the employee and the employer. In this sense, the suspension of an employment contract, which is also a feature of labor relations in sports, has the potential to extend to all categories of workers.

Advancing Knowledge of the Bio-Cultural Complexities of Low Energy Availability: The Value of Mixed-Methods Approaches

Low energy availability (LEA) is a complex health condition that most commonly affects female athletes. Research on LEA is weighted to quantitative approaches, and few studies have employed qualitative methods to understand the development of LEA. Current research fails to understand the complexity of LEA by largely operating within isolated research paradigms. This paper aims to demonstrate the value of integrating a mixed-methods research approach to understand the influence of sporting cultures on the physiological experiences of female athletes with LEA. The mixed-methods approach implemented the use of physiological (quantitative) and socio-psychological (qualitative) data obtained from elite female athletes in three sports: triathlons and running, (n = 11), rugby sevens (n = 9), and track cycling (n = 10). The physiological data consisted of energy availability, haematological analysis, bone health, and body composition. The socio-psychological data consisted of individual semi-structured interviews with topics covering nutrition, body image, the impact of the sporting environment, and experience with LEA. The interview data were thematically analysed. By bringing qualitative and quantitative data together, this paper illustrates the complex relationship between sporting culture and the physiology of LEA. First, endurance athletes categorised as having an LEA showed a positive correlation between the relative energy intake (EI) and serum ferritin, with the interviews revealing a focus on a low body weight and reducing the EI. Second, the interviews with the rugby players showed a strong but hierarchical team culture, with the experienced players monitoring and controlling the EI of novice players. Third, among the cyclists, the EI was reduced in those categorised as having an LEA, with the interviews revealing a coach–athlete power relationship impacting dietary behaviours. To conclude, this paper demonstrates how mixed methods are important for capturing how different sporting cultures impact athletes’ socio-psychological and physiological experiences of LEA.

Exploring the Perception of Division I Coaches and Administrators About International Collegiate Athlete Exclusion From Name, Image, and Likeness Opportunities

On July 1, 2021, the National Collegiate Athletic Association suspended its amateurism bylaw, allowing states to pass name, image, and likeness legislation. This opened the floodgates in intercollegiate athletics, allowing student-athletes to earn income and other financial incentives by engaging in sponsorships and other commercial deals with companies and organizations. Despite this, international collegiate athletes are currently prohibited from monetizing name, image, and likeness opportunities in the United States due to exclusionary restrictions on the F1 student visa status. There has been limited discourse regarding this near exclusion, leaving international collegiate athletes a silent group with few advocating for changes to ensure equity. This preliminary study investigates the perceptions of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I intercollegiate athletic practitioners and coaches on the impact this exclusion can have on a wide range of issues, including recruiting, team dynamics, and job function. Findings suggested there are five main areas where this legislative gap will have an impact, including education, finance, diversion, equity and fairness, and American exceptionalism.

Coaches’ Use of Remote Coaching: Experiences From Paralympic Sport

Remote coaching via the use of digital technologies has been utilized within Paralympic Sports since 2015 to address challenges experienced by coaches. These technologies have connected coaches and athletes in real time, alleviating time and travel costs. However, very little is known about the experience of coaching in these environments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences of coaches’ use of remote coaching technologies. Seven coaches from five Paralympic Sports were recruited for this study and participated in semistructured interviews. Additionally, observations were conducted of remote coaching sessions that were part of their regular training schedules. Coaches’ insights highlight that remote technologies created opportunities to increase coach–athlete interactions and positively impact the development of interpersonal relationships. This allowed coaches to explore and exploit newly discovered information from within training environments to aid athletes in skill development. Additionally, remote coaching provided unexpected opportunities for coach development. However, coaches also reported new environmental and logistical challenges which disrupted their usual coaching approach. Overall, remote coaching technologies were perceived as being beneficial despite the challenges experienced. However, future research that looks to understand how to impact coach and athlete development through the online environment is encouraged.

Athletes’ Perceptions of Developing Relationships Through Adult-Oriented Coaching in Online Contexts

Online coaching has grown in popularity, in which the coach and athlete work together using Internet-based platforms, without meeting in person. Kettlebell lifting has been using the online format for some time. The majority of Kettlebell lifters are Masters Athletes (MAs), over the age of 35 years, and competing in registered events around the world. Adult-oriented psychosocial coaching approaches that prioritize relationship development have proven to be successful when coaching MAs. While the coach–athlete relationship has been extensively examined, it is not known how the coach–athlete relationship is created and maintained in an online-only environment. The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of MAs’ relationships with their online coaches. Five kettlebell lifters were interviewed to explore their experiences of having online coaches. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the lifters’ individual experiences within the online coaching environment were examined. Three higher order themes suggest (a) initial relationship building involves the coach selection by the MA, as well as developing closeness and complementary behaviors; (b) progressing in the relationship through communication; and (c) coach programming that is adaptable and negotiated. The coach–athlete relationship for mature adults in an online-only platform can be fostered through adult-oriented approaches.

Hamstring Strain Injury Prevention: Current Beliefs and Practices of Practitioners Working in Major League Baseball.

Hamstring strain injury (HSI) is the most frequently sustained injury in Major League Baseball (MLB). However, the beliefs and practices of practitioners working in MLB regarding HSI risk factors and prevention strategies in baseball athletes have not been documented. To document the current beliefs and practices of practitioners working in MLB regarding HSI prevention. Cross-sectional study. Major League Baseball via an online survey. Athletic trainers, physical therapists, and strength and conditioning coaches working in MLB during the 2021 season. An online survey was conducted, with participants completing the survey once. Questions pertained to risk factor identification, the use and perceived effectiveness of prevention strategies, and barriers to implementation. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each question. A total of 91 responses were received featuring respondents from 28 of 30 MLB organizations. The perceived most important intrinsic risk factors were tolerance to high-speed running for first-time HSI and previous HSI for recurrent injury. The perceived most important extrinsic risk factor for both first-time and recurrent HSI was internal communication between staff. The perceived most effective prevention strategies were managing overall workload, regular exposure to high-speed running, and periodization. The most used prevention strategies were core or lumbopelvic strengthening, traditional resistance-training exercises, and managing overall workload. Approximately half (53%) of respondents reported barriers to effective implementation of HSI prevention strategies, including player and coach buy-in, compliance, workload management, and scheduling. This was the first survey to investigate MLB practitioner beliefs and practices regarding HSI prevention. Responses from practitioners regarding their beliefs about risk factors and appropriate prevention strategies varied, and discrepancies existed between the perceived most effective strategies and those most frequently used.

Evaluation of the Achievement Improvement Training Program for Sepaktakraw Athletes

The achievements of the Sepak Takraw branch have yet to show the achievements as expected, and several factors cause the inconsistent achievements. The success of athletes in achieving achievements must be connected to the training programs carried out by athletes. This study aims to analyze how athletes respond to the implementation of training programs to improve the achievement of athletes in the Sepaktakraw sport. The method used in this study is mixed. The sampling technique is a purposive sampling technique. The population used in this study were all takraw athletes, totaling 11 male athletes and 10 female athletes. The data collection instrument in this study was a takraw response questionnaire that would be given to athletes. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive analysis of the response questionnaire data given to the respondents. The research results are male athlete response data with an average of 75.00. The response given is very high. Based on the results of interviews conducted with the coaches of takraw athletes, it is known that the training programs carried out by athletes are systematically designed and carried out repeatedly to increase the athlete's ability to achieve achievements.