National Coaches Research Articles

Coach Training Participation and Athlete Life Skill Development: Findings from The US National Coach Survey

ABSTRACT Coaches are critical to the promotion of positive sport experiences, yet little research explores the relationships among coaches’ backgrounds and positive youth development (PYD). This study explores the relationships among factors such as coach preparation and coach and athlete outcomes among the 7,354 coaches involved in the US National Coach Survey. Prior participation in training focused on sport skills and tactics and PYD predicted greater perceived impact on athlete life skill development (RMSEA = .019, CFI = .998, SRMR = .005). Prior training in developing sport skills and tactics, life skills development, and mental health predicted higher satisfaction and success as a coach. Years of coaching, having been evaluated, satisfaction as a coach, prior training in life skills, and the value of life skill development were significantly and positively associated with greater perceived impact on athletes’ life skill development. Certification/licensure did not predict perceived impact (R2 = 20.1%). Implications for coaches, administrators, and coach education programs are drawn.

Sequential Decision Making in Beach Volleyball-A Mixed-Method Approach.

Which opponent player to sequentially serve to in beach volleyball is crucial given the advantage of the attacking team. The sequential choice theory was tested in three studies by analyzing allocation strategies based on the hot hand belief. Study 1 showed strong belief in the hot hand of national coaches. In Study 2, we analyzed Tokyo Olympics data to explore how base rates and sequential selection rates varied in an elite sample. When base rates of players differed by 0.25, low-performing players were frequently selected. In an experiment with elite athletes, Study 3A demonstrated accurate base-rate-difference recognition but low base-rate-change recognition. Study 3B found that the hot hand is believed to be important but is not often detected. We conclude that players and coaches follow predictions of the sequential choice theory and believe in the hot hand, but do not have a shared understanding of how to use it.

School Coaches in the United States: Insights from the National Coach Survey

Concerns exist about how the landscape of school sports is changing, leaving many school coaches feeling unprepared to meet the challenges of this role today. This article explores the status of school sports coaching by drawing on recent findings from the National Coach Survey, the first-of-its-kind survey in the United States released in 2022.

How can emerging tennis nations survive the tennis arms race? My thoughts through a strategic lens!

This article provides an opinion of the current challenges and unique perspectives experienced by emerging tennis federations. It delves into a comprehensive analysis around strategic development derived from qualitative research involving esteemed individuals in the field, including senior leaders, national coaches, and board members from two distinct nations: Tennis Malaysia and Tennis Ireland. Through this investigative journey, numerous critical challenges have emerged, shedding light on the intricate landscape that smaller federations navigate. The article offers some practical applications for federations to consider when making strategic decisions.

Content validity and reliability of agility test in wheelchair tennis

Purpose. This study aims to develop the construction of an agility test in wheelchair tennis. Material and methods.This research is a research development consisting of four stages. In the first stage, documents and research journals were analyzed to develop the construction of a wheelchair tennis agility test. The first step resulted in six aspects, namely: the definition of the agility test motion aspect, the suitability of the test to the state of the match aspect, ease in the agility test aspect, reliability aspect, clarity instructions on the image aspect, and security aspect. The Delphi technique was used in the second stage, and experts assessed the results of constructing the wheelchair tennis agility test in the first stage. In the third stage, the results of expert judgment with the Aiken formula were analyzed to test the validity of the contents. Participants in this study were documents and seven experts consisting of five national coaches and two experts with Doctoral degrees in tennis science specifications. The fourth step with Cronbach’s Alpha reliability test and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient was tested on 16 experienced wheelchair athletes, male and female, with the age of 18-40 years and an average training level of 11.20±1.7 years.Results. The validity test results on aspect 1 show V value of 0.78; on aspect 2 show V value of 0.90; on aspect 3 show V value of 0.85; on aspect 4 show V value of 0.96; on aspect 5 show V value of 0.96; and on aspect 6 show V value of 0.96. The result of Croncbach’s Alpha reliability test is 0.804, and the value of the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient is 0.804. Then, the agility test of wheelchair tennis athletes has a valid and reliable value.Conclusions. The wheelchair tennis agility test construct has high validity and reliability. The construction document of the wheelchair tennis agility test instrument shows that it has high content validity and reliability, so it can convince readers and researchers about the instrument. Further research requires more detailed testing of retest test conducted with larger samples. Key words: wheelchair tennis, content validity, agility, physical

Factors enabling and hindering sporting success among South African elite athletes from historically disadvantaged areas: Through a coaching lens

Sporting success among nations provides a sense of value and national pride. This paper evaluated the perceptions and experiences of national coaches on the enablers and hindrances of international sporting success by elite athletes from historically disadvantaged areas (HDA) using the SPLISS framework. A qualitative research study design was employed for this study. Ten internationally recognised coaches (46.7 ± 12.9 years) volunteered for the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Data was analysed using a computer software programme. Governance, organisation and sports policies, coach provision, local/international competition access, bursaries/scholarships and sport volunteerism were perceived as enablers, while lack of financial support, foundation level participation, school sport, athlete retention, sports facilities, reliable transport system and scientific support were perceived to be hindrances to sporting success. The findings highlight the need for policymakers to oversee and ensure a systemic governance approach with an integrated sports support system and effective policies, institutions and strategic planning, coupled with an adequate budget allocation in support of this system to facilitate elite sports success.

VIRD: Immersive Match Video Analysis for High-Performance Badminton Coaching.

Badminton is a fast-paced sport that requires a strategic combination of spatial, temporal, and technical tactics. To gain a competitive edge at high-level competitions, badminton professionals frequently analyze match videos to gain insights and develop game strategies. However, the current process for analyzing matches is time-consuming and relies heavily on manual note-taking, due to the lack of automatic data collection and appropriate visualization tools. As a result, there is a gap in effectively analyzing matches and communicating insights among badminton coaches and players. This work proposes an end-to-end immersive match analysis pipeline designed in close collaboration with badminton professionals, including Olympic and national coaches and players. We present VIRD, a VR Bird (i.e., shuttle) immersive analysis tool, that supports interactive badminton game analysis in an immersive environment based on 3D reconstructed game views of the match video. We propose a top-down analytic workflow that allows users to seamlessly move from a high-level match overview to a detailed game view of individual rallies and shots, using situated 3D visualizations and video. We collect 3D spatial and dynamic shot data and player poses with computer vision models and visualize them in VR. Through immersive visualizations, coaches can interactively analyze situated spatial data (player positions, poses, and shot trajectories) with flexible viewpoints while navigating between shots and rallies effectively with embodied interaction. We evaluated the usefulness of VIRD with Olympic and national-level coaches and players in real matches. Results show that immersive analytics supports effective badminton match analysis with reduced context-switching costs and enhances spatial understanding with a high sense of presence.

Planning in Athletes with Physical Motor Disabilities, Bullet-Impulsion Amputees

Contemporary training is not based on experiences, its success lies in the confluence of knowledge and application of the different sciences that converge in it. The objective of the research was to argue what aspects should be considered for sports planning in athletes with physical motor disabilities, bullet amputees. Descriptive research is carried out. Arguing their different classes and classifications and the aspects to take into account when planning training. Provincial and national coaches and managers collaborated as a sample. Research methods were used such as analysis and synthesis, survey, interview, and document analysis, which made it possible to define the essential elements for a correct individualization of the training.

Malaysian Rugby Coaching Competency among High Performance National Coaches

Malaysian Rugby Coaching Competency among High Performance National Coaches

Impact of Covid-19 on the Psychology of Coaches

Abstract The development of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), raises concerns about heightened stress and anxiety in people’s lives. The purpose of this research was to investigate the emotional influence of COVID-19 that professional coaches faced and how they managed to deal with social seclusion during the second wave of COVID-19. More precisely, it was investigated whether the age and educational level of coaches had an impact on their psychological condition during this period. The sample consisted of 605 Greek National coaches, 398 men, 206 women, and one coach who did not indicate sex preference, between the ages of 18-67 (M=38.18, SD=11.19). The results indicated the age differences between the youngest and oldest groups, and between high school and Ph.D. graduates. Overall, it was found that the Greek version of ERQ constitutes a reliable instrument for measuring emotion regulation situations in a professional sports environment.

Mapping School-Based Coach Education Requirements in the United States

To date, there is a critical gap in our understanding of coach licensure and training requirements for school-based coaches across the United States. The current study categorizes the policy landscape for school-based coaches by examining public documents that outline state-specific (N = 51) coach training requirements. In addition, authors engaged in an in-depth curriculum and cost analysis of required coach trainings in the state of Ohio to better understand training topics, costs, time commitments, and state-specific compliance criteria guiding coach education. Findings indicated most states (n = 49, 96%) require training for coaches; however, governing bodies, training topics, and coach-specific training (i.e., assistant, volunteer, and middle school) varied significantly by state. Moreover, our curriculum and cost analysis revealed that licensure processes are costly and time-intensive, and training content predominantly focused on physical health and safety with less emphasis on social–emotional health and youth development. Findings have important education, practice, and policy implications for informing a national coach training agenda.

Mental imagery use: the perspective of national team coaches in the U-19 beach volleyball world championship

ABSTRACT Youth sports coaches do not seem to have a clear understanding of mental imagery, although research has highlighted its benefits. This study tried to understand the perspective of national coaches regarding the importance of MI in practical settings, analysing how they understand, integrate, and encourage its use. A qualitative approach was used, where semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 beach volleyball national team coaches, in the U-19 world championship. The analysis revealed that coaches broadly understood MI, considering it a valid complement to performance enhancement, but they employ it non-systematically and based on their empirical knowledge. Coaches also highlighted their attempt to encourage athletes to use MI (e.g., in the volleyball serve or in the rehearsal of a play). The importance of MI was recognised, although it is unclear how coaches should encourage athletes to use it, and how they can integrate it into real training environments.

Ceremonial carriages from the collection of the National Coach Museum, Lisbon. Coach of the Oceans: history, iconography and restoration

Ceremonial carriages from the collection of the National Coach Museum, Lisbon. Coach of the Oceans: history, iconography and restoration

Action inquiry and vocal ergonomics: A pilot study with sports coaches.

Coaches critically rely on voice for occupational functioning, which has associated risks to vocal health. However, vocal occupational health and safety (OHS) and vocal ergonomics are not typically considered for, by, or with coaches. This study piloted a participatory approach to vocal ergonomics, aiming to collaboratively (i) understand coaches' vocally reliant occupational participation, and (ii) consider vocal ergonomic factors. This research was undertaken at an international tournament for floorball (also known as 'Innebandy', 'Salibandy', or 'Unihockey'). Three national coaches (n = 3) and the lead researcher undertook cooperative action inquiry. This piloted a participatory vocal ergonomics programme. Action inquiry methods included fieldnotes, interviews, observations, a workshop, ergonomics approaches, and a focus group. Multi-level analyses supported the findings, including categorical aggregation, direct interpretation, and reflexive thematic analysis. Participants identified vocal ergonomic factors present at the tournament; including personal, activity, physical environmental, and organisational factors. Participants developed four vocal ergonomic approaches responsive to factors. These were: (1) player consultation, (2) ongoing feedback discussions, (3) movement and postural change, and (4) specific task adaptation. Approaches 1-2 directly supported coaches' voices. Coaches posited limitations to other strategies, but made recommendations for future use. Coaches also reflected that this collaboration provided actionable voice insights and opportunities to address vocal ergonomics. They advocated for extended engagement with coaches, increased focus on vocal health, and inclusion of early career coaches in future programmes. These findings support engagement of coaches, and other vocally reliant workers, in addressing voice use and vocal health at work.

’We too will have to wait a year’: The impacts of COVID-19 and the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games from Brazilian athletes and coaches’ perspectives

The COVID-19 outbreak resulted in the postponement of several sporting mega-events. However, research investigating the direct impacts on Paralympic sport is sparse. This study explored how Brazilian Paralympic athletes and coaches perceived the potential impacts on training and sport performance as consequences of the complexities surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak and the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used, and an online survey was applied to collect quantitative data with Paralympic athletes (n = 93) while national coaches (n = 12) participated in semi-structured interviews. Results indicated that the perception of the participants converged concerning the impact on training conditions. Their perceptions diverged concerning the impact on athletic performances at the Paralympics, where coaches believed in drop in performances, while athletes seemed confident or indifferent. The inferences gained reinforce the need for more actions that actively engage in minimising the lack of representation and visibility of Paralympic sports.

Characterisation of Goal Scoring Patterns during Open Play Related to Zone Pitch Division and Number of Players Involved in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The aim of this study was to characterise all the goal scoring patterns during open play (elaborate attacks versus counterattacks) related to zone pitch division and the number of players involved in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. An Iterative Dichotomiser 3 (ID3) decision tree algorithm was used to classify all the goal scoring patterns (94 goals in 64 matches). The results did not show statistical differences between the type of scoring goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup (p > 0.05; ES = Moderate). According to the result of the patterns of how the goals were achieved, an ID3 algorithm decision tree with seven classification decision nodes was calculated. Consequently, this study may aid national team coaches for the next World Cup to establish notational analyses and spatial-temporal relations to understand how scoring patterns during open play are related to zone pitch division and the number of players involved.

Exploring the Weakening Factors of Poomsae Competitiveness for Chinese National Athletes of Summer Universiade

To date, Poomsae competitiveness of Chinese national university team was being high, but it was recently low. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore the factors that have been declined the Chinese national athletes performance in Poomsae competition for summer Universiade. To this end, a total of four national athletes and one national coach from Chinese university students who participated in the 30th Summer Universiade were selected and interviewed. The interviewed data were analyzed using inductive method and checked data trustworthiness using peer debriefing and member checking. Finally, three weakening factors of university athletes’ performance in Chinese national team were addressed such as (a) lack of trend analysis on changed skills in poomsae competition, (b) no chance of free poomsae competition and lack of selection process for talented athletes, and (c) lack of systematic training program for free poomase competition.

The Names Heard Long Ago: How the Golden Age of Hungarian Soccer Shaped the Modern Game

The Names Heard Long Ago: How the Golden Age of Hungarian Soccer Shaped the Modern Game

Anthropometric, Biomotor, and Physiological Factors for Indonesian Fencing Athletes Talent Identification

The development of fencing sports achievements through talent identification of fencing athletes does not appear to be an important process for coaches or clubs to help develop their programs. The purpose of this study was to determine the indicators involved in influencing the success factors of fencing athletes so that the results can be applied as development through a model for identifying Indonesian fencing athletes' talents. The population used in this study was 100 fencing sports experts in Indonesia that consist of 47 fencing athletes at the provincial level, 32 national athletes, 16 national coaches, and five national referees. The quantitative descriptive method was used in this research. Subjects filled the criteria weights in a questionnaire related to a factor scale that gave weight to the most important indicators in the anthropometric, biomotor, and physiological aspects. Statistical data processing is carried out through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) using expert choice software so that an intelligent model can be produced to identify the talents of fencing athletes in Indonesia based on the weighting of each criterion. The results show that the greatest contributing factors in determining the talents of prospective athletes are anthropometrics by 75%, biomotor factors by 13%, and physiological factors by 12%. Recognizing talent identification characteristics as consideration for successful athlete development will lead to a greater understanding of how the talent characteristics of athletes are developed.

AHP 기법을 활용한 태권도 국가대표 지도자의 지도력 중요도 탐색

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the role of national representative coach leadership in facilitating the positive development of athletes in Taekwondo.<BR> Method: This study develops a theoretical model from expert panel meetings; two former national coaches, two former national athletes, and a professor with a major in Taekwondo. Based on the panel meetings, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to investigate the evaluation model. Specifically, we used an online AHP tool provided by BPMSG AHP Online System.<BR> Results: The results of the study are as follows. The upper items were higher in the order of the communication ability (0.403), expertise (0.384), leader literacy (0.150), and administration (0.063), while the lower items were higher in the order of physical training (0.285), technique analysis (0.257), performance analysis (0.242), and program diversity (0.216). The priority of the communication abilities were higher in the order of physical conditioning (0.399), trust and understanding (0.394), and athlete characteristics (0.207), leader literacy in the order of sense of mission (0.469), teaching philosophy (0.299), and reflective attitude (0.232), and administration in the order of operation (0.444), foreign relation (0.341), and office management (0.215). Lastly, the composite weights considering all upper and lower items were higher in the order of physical conditioning (0.1607), trust and understanding (0.1587), physical training (0.1094), technique analysis (0.0986), performance analysis (0.0929), program diversity (0.0829), athlete characteristics (0.0834), sense of mission (0.0703), teaching philosophy (0.0448), reflective attitude (0.0348), operation (0.0279), foreign relation (0.0214), and office management (0.0135).<BR> Conclusion: In conclusion, this study contributes to a meaningful classification of national coaches’ leadership associated with athlete performance and commitment. In particular, it is important to create an environment where leaders can build trustful relationships with athletes.