Making an Impact in Community Athletics: Teaching Sport Psychology to High School Coaches

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the perceptions of coaches regarding the process of goal setting using a qualitative methodology. Participants were eight male and six female high school coaches from Midwest United States representing both team and individual sports. Results revealed that coaches employed goal setting extensively for both individual and team goals in practice and competition. In addition, many interesting findings emerged including (a) coaches tended to set both long- and short-term goals; (b) coaches only inconsistently wrote down their goals; (c) goals were both dictated by coaches and set in collaboration with players; (d) the primary function of goals was to provide direction and focus; and (e) physical, psychological, and external barriers impeded goal attainment. These findings are discussed in relation to the current empirical/theoretical goal-setting literature and suggestions for best practice by sport psychology researchers are offered.

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High School Coaches Lack First-Aid, Injury Treatment Skills

Family Practice News ◽

10.1016/s0300-7073(05)71061-6 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 35 (14) ◽

pp. 48

Author(s):

MICHELE G. SULLIVAN

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

First Aid ◽

High School Coaches ◽

Injury Treatment

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Nutrition knowledge survey of high school coaches in Alabama

Journal of Adolescent Health Care ◽

10.1016/0197-0070(90)90364-8 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 267

Author(s):

Bonnie A. Spear ◽

Barbara Hicks ◽

Ronald A. Feinstein ◽

Drew Ferguson ◽

Carol B. Craig

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Nutrition Knowledge ◽

High School Coaches ◽

Knowledge Survey

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Character Development Through Youth Sport: High School Coaches’ Perspectives about a Character-based Education Program

Journal of Youth Development ◽

10.5195/jyd.2015.13 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 127-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kaitlyn A. Ferris ◽

Andrea Vest Ettekal ◽

Jennifer P. Agans ◽

Brian M. Burkhard

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Character Development ◽

Youth Sports ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

High School Sports ◽

Coach Education ◽

High School Coaches ◽

School Sports ◽

Education Workshop ◽

Sports Coaches

This study examined high school sports coaches’ perspectives about a character-based coach education workshop designed to promote positive coaching practices and transform the culture of youth sports. Fifteen coaches (Mage = 42.07, SD = 14.62, 73.3% male) provided feedback about Positive Coaching Alliance’s (PCA) “Double-Goal Coach” training program and what aspects of the workshop they applied to their coaching practices. Results indicated that coaches believed that participation in PCA workshops contributed to the value coaches attributed to individuals, to coach-oriented character development, and to positive relationships within youth sports. The coaches also suggested changes in future PCA workshops. These findings provide preliminary evidence that coaches’ incorporate skills acquired through participation in character-based coach education programs. We discuss implications for coaches and athletes, and for policies aimed at enhancing positive youth attributes developed through sport.

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