Successful Coaching Research Articles

Understanding and Measuring Coach-Teacher Alliance: A Glimpse Inside the 'Black Box'.

Coaching models are increasingly used in schools to enhance fidelity and effectiveness of evidence-based interventions; yet, little is known about the relationship between the coach and teacher (i.e., coach-teacher alliance), which may indirectly enhance teacher and student outcomes through improved implementation quality. There is also limited research on measures of coach-teacher alliance, further hindering the field from understanding the active components for successful coaching. The current study examined the factor structure and psychometric characteristics of a measure of coach-teacher alliance as reported by both teachers and coaches and explored the extent to which teachers and coaches reliably rate their alliance. Data come from a sample of 147 teachers who received implementation support from one of four coaches; both the teacher and the coach completed an alliance questionnaire. Separate confirmatory factor analyses for each informant revealed four factors (relationship, process, investment, and perceived benefits) as well as an additional coach-rated factor (perceived teacher barriers). A series of analyses, including cross-rater correlations, intraclass correlation coefficients, and Kuder-Richardson reliability estimates suggested that teachers and coaches provide reliable, though not redundant, information about the alliance. Implications for future research and the utilization of the parallel coach-teacher alliance measures to increase the effectiveness of coaching are discussed.

The role of conference externalities and other factors in determining the annual recruiting rankings of football bowl subdivision (FBS) teams

ABSTRACTIn this article, we analyse the impact of school, head coach and conference characteristics on a college football team’s annual recruiting ranking. Utilizing panel data collected from various sources covering 2002–2014, we find that measures of recent school success such as having winning seasons and finishing seasons ranked in the Associated Press (AP) top 25 poll have a positive impact on a team’s recruiting ranking. Similarly, schools with more successful head coaches tend to earn better recruiting classes, while schools facing bowl bans, scholarship restrictions and probation tend to earn worse recruiting classes. Various measures of conference achievement indicate that conference externalities in recruiting may indeed be positive as is often suggested; however, there is much potential for a negative externality as well.

Expatriate coaching: factors impacting coaching success

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors impacting successful coaching of expatriates.Design/methodology/approach– Data were gathered from 25 semi-structured interviews of coached expatriates, coaches and HR professionals. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyze and interpret the data.Findings– Altogether, 16 factors impacting expatriate coaching success were identified. They were categorized with respect to the four-quadrant framework of Wilber. The findings suggest, for example, that coaching success is impacted by: from the coach and coachee as individuals perspective, international experience of the coach; from the coaching relationship perspective, coaching language and managerial leadership style; from the behaviors, processes, models and techniques perspective, a clear contract with objectives and evaluation, and challenging behavior of the coach; and from the systems perspective, organizational support.Practical implications– Coaching processes, tools and techniques should be adapted to the needs and situation of the assignee. It would be beneficial if organizations ensured that their coaches are internationally experienced and that their managerial leadership style supports coaching. Coaching should be clearly defined and contracted with goals and evaluation. Coaching tools and techniques suitable for international coaching should be added to coach-training programs.Originality/value– Given the paucity of expatriate coaching research, and the fact that expatriation continues to be a key component of the international management field, this paper contributes to coaching and expatriate research by identifying factors that give expatriate coaching success and by analyzing and presenting them using Wilber’s systemic four-quadrant framework.

Turning Boys Into Men: The Incentive-Based System in Urban Meyer’s Plan to Win

This paper examines the incentive-based system of Urban Meyer, head football coach at The Ohio State University. Personal discussions with this coach and members of his football staff took place following a review of his methods as described in biographical and media reports, and were compared with the approaches used by other successful coaches as documented in coaching research. Meyer has created clear guidelines and expectations for behaviors that players must consistently display to be recognized as successful team members and leaders. He also has developed a comprehensive set of processes to promote the development and adherence to those desired behaviors. This examination of Meyer’s approach focuses on the connection between the three levels (Blue, Red and Gold) of his incentive-based system and the three phases of a rite of passage (separation, transformation, and reincorporation) associated with them. The system rewards more grownup behaviors with greater status and privileges befitting the increasingly mature individual. A case is made that coaches can employ such a rites of passage framework as part of a comprehensive philosophy about turning boys into men, thus encouraging successful outcomes both on and off the field.

Stoke achieves transformation through coaching

Purpose – Shows how Stoke City Council has transformed its working culture by training employees to give coaching and therapy sessions to colleagues. Design/methodology/approach – Examines the reasons for the program, the form it takes and the results it is achieving. Findings – Explains that all council staff have free and confidential access to the service. The council also created a priority service for more urgent and complex cases to which access is through a human resource referral. Practical implications – Reveals that more than 75 staff members have so far received coaching from the network. Those off work because of anxiety and depression who received the coaching have returned to employment much sooner than expected. Social implications – Explains that the background to the initiative is that local authorities are being expected to achieve more and more on increasingly tight budgets. Originality/value – Describes the background to the success of coaching and therapy sessions at Stoke City Council.

SURVEI PEMBINAAN PRESTASI KLUB-KLUB BULUTANGKIS DI KABUPATEN PEMALANG TAHUN 2014

The purpose of this study was to determine the achievement coaching conducted badminton clubs in Pemalang district. Analysis of the data in this research is to reduce the data, presenting data and making inferences. Results of this research is the development of badminton clubs in Pemalang district covers To promote coaching, coaching and coaching achievements nursery. Each club has a training program in the execution of the exercise so that the exercise can be run in accordance exercise program made. Organizational management of the club is still incomplete. Coaches have experience in training and has a coaching license to support the success of the club's coaching. Facilities and infrastructure badminton clubs in Pemalang district is quite good but still lacking for physical development. Funding obtained from the club's monthly dues club athletes, athletes as well as registration of the sponsor club, but not all clubs have a sponsor. The system of coaching athletes badminton clubs in Pemalang district already implementing a system of coaching with reference to the guidance system To promote, nursery coaching, and coaching achievements, but still not good because the nursery athletes not using the scientific method, in addition to the nursery still needs improvement also in the organization and funding,.

Leading to Effectiveness

Although numerous studies have shown that coaching works, the search for “active ingredients” of successful coaching is ongoing. We argue that the coach’s transactional and transformational leadership behavior contributes to coaching effectiveness. In an experimental study on reducing procrastination, participants ( N = 108) defined individual goals related to procrastination. They were then randomly assigned to a dyadic coaching session, a group coaching session, or a control group. Procrastination was reduced in all conditions, but participants in the two coaching conditions were better at attaining their individual goals. Furthermore, compared with participants who received group coaching, participants in the dyadic coaching had a higher increase in goal commitment and showed more goal reflection and higher intrinsic goal motivation. Mediation analyses further revealed that the differences between dyadic and group coaching were explained by the coach’s transformational and transactional leadership behavior.

Effective Modern Coaching: The Principles and Art of Successful Business Coaching

Effective Modern Coaching: The Principles and Art of Successful Business Coaching

Motivational interviewing as a framework to guide school-based coaching

In school-based settings, coaching is described as a professional development practice in which a person with specialized knowledge works with a teacher to change current practices to better student outcomes. Coaching has emerged as a strategy to support the successful deployment of evidence-based interventions. Still, little is known about the coaching process itself, and the literature does not yet clearly define the activities and skills that comprise the coaching process. In this article, we explore theoretical support for motivational interviewing (MI) [Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2012). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change. New York, NY: Guilford Press] as a behavior change theory to guide coaching practice and research. In addition, we propose activities to conceptualize the coaching process, identify skills that are likely to contribute to successful coaching, highlight specific interventions or models that have used an MI approach to increase implementation fidelity within the context of a coaching relationship, and discuss implications for future research and practice.

Toward an Understanding of Optimal Development Environments Within Elite English Soccer Academies

This study examined the factors perceived by successful coaches to underpin optimal development environments within elite English soccer academies. A semistructured interview guide was developed to interview 10 expert coaches about the environments they create for players at a key stage in their development. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductively content analyzed. The results identified a wide range of factors resulting in a conceptual framework that explained how these factors interact to underpin an optimal environment. Subcomponents of this framework included organizational core (e.g., advocate a player-driven ideology), adaptability (e.g., embrace novel ideas & approaches), player welfare (e.g., understand players’ world-view), key stakeholder relationships (e.g., build trust with parents), involvement (e.g., encourage players’ ideas/feedback), and achievement oriented (e.g., establish an explicit pathway to senior level). Collectively, the findings highlight the importance of establishing strong, dynamic, organizational cultures at elite youth soccer academies. Ways that academies might be helped to establish such environments are discussed.

Coaching is key to SME success

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to provide an interview with Peter Boolkah. Design/methodology/approach – The paper discusses some of the current issues within the coaching industry. Findings – Boolkah answers questions on coaching philosophy, what attributes make a successful coach and how a business can make the most of a coach’s expertise. Practical implications – Provides insight and advice from a leading industry professional.

Caring as an important foundation in coaching for social sustainability: a case study of a successful Swedish coach inhigh-performance sport

The aim of this study is to describe and analyze the experiences and strategies of one successful coach in high-performance sports. Through case study methodology we have studied Bengt Johansson, one of the most successful coaches in Sweden ever. From the perspective of social sustainability, caring seems to have constituted an important basis for coaching the Swedish national team in handball during Bengt Johansson′s years as head coach. Caring in this sense means to respect the players, value them, involve them, have dialogue with them, listen to them and support them as human beings. Johansson has demonstrated how competitiveness, dedication and hard work coexist alongside compassion, empathy, participation and caring.

Teacher-coach-student Coaching Model: A Vehicle to Improve Efficiency of Adult Institution

The escalating success of coaching and the significant potential it holds as a vehicle for effective learning for individuals and groups appear to have had little impact within educational contexts to date. In response, this paper therefore presents an introduction to coaching practice and its principle and outcomes and examines its processes through a discussion of adult learning theory and comparing the principle of this theory with coaching principle and frameworks. In doing so, it demonstrates the learning value inherent within the coaching framework and challenges educators to consider its potential as a model for active, collaborative, authentic and engaging learning for adult.

The coaching experience of four novice principals

PurposeThis study followed four novice principals in two urban school districts through one or two years of their leadership coaching experience. The purpose of this study was to determine principals’ perceived benefits of the coaching experience, principals’ beliefs regarding the most beneficial attributes of a coach, and the match between these findings and the core leadership practices that most dramatically impact student achievement.Design/methodology/approachThis study followed four novice principals in two urban school districts through one or two years of their leadership coaching experience.FindingsPrincipals in this study appeared to have had a successful coaching experience in part because of: the coach's knowledge of curriculum, schools, and districts; the practicality of the experience; and the coach's ability to collaborate and shape the thinking of principals without being authoritative or intrusive. Principals experienced success on the job as identified by the student achievement on state tests and their advancement to district principal leadership roles.Originality/valueThe focus of the coaching in this study appeared to be centered on the core leadership practices noted to have the most impact on student achievement. The results revealed that the skills sets and knowledge of a coach are critical to the coaching experience. The general effects of a coaching focus on core leadership practices may also play a significant part in principal success; however, more research is needed to make a full determination.

Developing a Successful Coaching Philosophy: A Step-by-Step Approach

The coaching profession demands a high level of accountability and responsibility for the coach. Challenged to achieve success on the scoreboard and promote the positive personal growth of the athl...

Going beyond Won-Loss Record to Identify Successful Coaches: Development and Preliminary Validation of the Coaching Success Questionnaire-2

The Coaching Success Questionnaire-2 (CSQ-2) was developed to provide a global assessment of coaches' ability to develop critical athlete outcomes (e.g., self-confidence). Study 1 examined the responses of 212 collegiate athletes on the 106-item CSQ-2A, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) results provided empirical guidance for modification and refinement of the instrument. Study 2 utilized EFA and covariance modeling to examine the responses of 352 participants on the 76-item CSQ-2B, resulting in the final 40-item, 10-factor model. Study 3 confirmed the model with a sample of 396 athletes demonstrating strong factorial validity (i.e., RMSEA =.07; SRMR =.05; NNFI =.98; CFI =.99). Construct validity of the CSQ-2 was also examined using bivariate correlations and multivariate analysis of variance across psychosocial correlate variables (i.e., athlete self-confidence, enjoyment/boredom, motivational climate and athlete burnout). Results provided preliminary support for the construct validity of the CSQ-2 and discussion focused on possible uses of this new measure of coaching success as both a research and coach development tool.

Towards Accessible Technologies for Coaching

Keen observation skills are an essential trait for successful coaches. Technologies by which to quantitatively measure and validate their observations and intuitions remain few and far between. For well funded professional teams and individual athletes, access to highly specialized equipment is available. For highly motivated amateur sports personnel, as well as some professional teams, training staff have little access to such technology. This situation is changing. A new generation of affordable technology will be available in the next few years. This offers coaches an unheralded opportunity to harness technology to improve performance of the teams and athletes in their charge. This paper considers the use of wearable technologies as a means for aiding coaches to plan, monitor and compare training sessions. The design of a prototype system that illustrates the easy applicability and potential of such technologies in coaching is motivated and described. A detailed implementation is provided and an overview of the interface presented.

Snakes in Sneakers: A Case Study of Organizational Politics in a NCAA Division I Athletics Program

This case is a creative illustration of organizational politics in a National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) sports setting. It includes the exploration of several key concepts: political will, political skill, political perceptions, political behavior, and political influence theory. Upon arriving to his new job at the Division I level, an assistant men’s basketball coach finds himself to be a key piece in a political chess match between the highly successful Head Coach of the men’s basketball team and the Athletic Director (AD). The issue at hand is the hiring of the new assistant coach by the AD without the support of the head coach. The hire is an attempt by the AD to subvert and eventually replace the legendary head coach who, in the eyes of the AD, is long past his prime. Accordingly, the new hire encounters a variety of political scenarios, including strong resistance from the players and coaching staff of the men’s basketball team. This case, with the addition of detailed teaching notes, is designed to highlight salient elements of organizational politics to undergraduate and graduate sport management students, and explain how they can successfully apply this information and more effectively operate in the political sports arena.

Communicative challenges of coaches in an elite-level sports system. Theoretical reflections on successfulcoaching strategies

Effective communication is a critical component of sports coaching. But how does communication work? What challenges do coaches face in communicating with athletes, and what communication strategies can they use to improve their effectiveness as coaches? In this article, we attempt to answer these questions by analysing coach-athlete communication from the perspective of Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory. Although it has received very little attention to date in English-language scholarship, it is a theory that appears particularly well suited for reflecting the complexity of coach-athlete communication, for identifying specific communication problems, and for developing successful coaching strategies.

An Investigation into the Coaching Approach of a Successful World Class Soccer Coach: Anson Dorrance

INTRODUCTION Numerous studies have attempted to understand the processes that contribute to the success of sport teams, and evidence suggests that the role of the coach is particularly impactful [1, 2]. It is often assumed that coaches who consistently produce winning teams do something better or different than coaches of less successful teams. As a result, researchers frequently conduct studies on highly successful coaches through observations, interviews, biographies, and other methodologies to gain insights into the coaching process as well as the strategies these coaches use to help their athletes and teams achieve performance success [3-5]. Anson Dorrance, head women’s soccer coach at the University of North Carolina and former USA Women’s National Team coach, is arguably one of the most successful coaches in the sport of soccer, and perhaps even across sports. With a 94% winning record over 33 years at the collegiate level, 21 national championships, and a first place finish in the 1991 World Cup Championship (i.e., the first in U.S. history), Dorrance has certainly developed a system of coaching that gets results. This makes him a prime target for research on the processes associated with successful coaching. In an attempt to expand on the current body of literature, Jin Wang and Bill Straub conducted a study on Dorrance’s leadership style and approach to coaching. The purpose of this article is to provide a critique of that study as well as a commentary on some of the more prominent findings.