In this study, we explore how soccer coaches of children’s mixed-sex programs in Ontario understand sex and gender in the context of their coaching practices. Informed by feminist science studies and feminist methodologies, we conducted semistructured interviews with 11 coaches. Through critical discourse analysis, we identified the coaches’ (re)production of three discourses: (a) gender is constructed but categorical; (b) inevitable and hierarchal sex differences necessitate sex segregation; and (c) girls’ sport is vulnerable, and girls in sport require support. The results of this study indicate that these coaches’ understandings of sex and gender are heavily informed by discourses of sex essentialism and sex and gender difference, which together legitimize the need for a binary sex/gender model of sport. Understanding the ways in which sport enforces and is shaped by the limited binary and naturalized notions of sex and gender is one step in reimagining a more just and inclusive model of sport, including children’s sport, and in creating sport spaces where players of all genders can thrive.
{"title":"Dominant Discourses at Play: How Children’s Soccer Coaches of Mixed-Sex Programs in Ontario, Canada, Understand Sex and Gender","authors":"Julia Hamer, Audrey R. Giles","doi":"10.1123/iscj.2022-0022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2022-0022","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, we explore how soccer coaches of children’s mixed-sex programs in Ontario understand sex and gender in the context of their coaching practices. Informed by feminist science studies and feminist methodologies, we conducted semistructured interviews with 11 coaches. Through critical discourse analysis, we identified the coaches’ (re)production of three discourses: (a) gender is constructed but categorical; (b) inevitable and hierarchal sex differences necessitate sex segregation; and (c) girls’ sport is vulnerable, and girls in sport require support. The results of this study indicate that these coaches’ understandings of sex and gender are heavily informed by discourses of sex essentialism and sex and gender difference, which together legitimize the need for a binary sex/gender model of sport. Understanding the ways in which sport enforces and is shaped by the limited binary and naturalized notions of sex and gender is one step in reimagining a more just and inclusive model of sport, including children’s sport, and in creating sport spaces where players of all genders can thrive.","PeriodicalId":45934,"journal":{"name":"International Sport Coaching Journal","volume":" 17","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139392144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"INTERNATIONAL SPORT COACHING JOURNAL","authors":"","doi":"10.1123/iscj.2023-0118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2023-0118","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45934,"journal":{"name":"International Sport Coaching Journal","volume":"32 33","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139125618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) 14th Global Coach Conference","authors":"","doi":"10.1123/iscj.2023-0102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2023-0102","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45934,"journal":{"name":"International Sport Coaching Journal","volume":"40 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139258695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"INTERNATIONAL SPORT COACHING JOURNAL","authors":"","doi":"10.1123/iscj.2023-0071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2023-0071","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45934,"journal":{"name":"International Sport Coaching Journal","volume":"43 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136236596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"INTERNATIONAL SPORT COACHING JOURNAL","authors":"","doi":"10.1123/iscj.2023-0021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2023-0021","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45934,"journal":{"name":"International Sport Coaching Journal","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136012348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The current study investigated collegiate coaches’ reflective inquiry processes, and the subsequent development of emotional and personal resources, to facilitate their performance in demanding environments. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II head coaches (n = 13) to explore their reflective processes. A reflexive thematic analysis generated two main themes and five subthemes consisting of strengths-based inquiry (studying optimal functioning, building a reflective environment, and establishing personal resources) and deficits-based inquiry (learning from challenging issues and ruminating on problems). Findings revealed how coaches used reflective questions to better understand their personal strengths and successful experiences of their respective programmes. Furthermore, by fostering coaches’ sense of gratitude and engagement in social support, strengths-based reflection can build personal resources to enable thriving in demanding situations. However, coaches were inclined towards deficits-based reflections that focused on eradicating performance problems. Although reflecting on errors was important to guide future action and improve performance, fixating on shortcomings could be detrimental to coach well-being. Findings can enhance coaches’ understanding of reflection to manage performance demands by developing personal resources through reflective questions, prompts, and conversations.
{"title":"Collegiate Coaches’ Reflective Inquiry Processes to Manage Performance Demands","authors":"Martin Dixon, N. Bolter","doi":"10.1123/iscj.2022-0045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2022-0045","url":null,"abstract":"The current study investigated collegiate coaches’ reflective inquiry processes, and the subsequent development of emotional and personal resources, to facilitate their performance in demanding environments. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II head coaches (n = 13) to explore their reflective processes. A reflexive thematic analysis generated two main themes and five subthemes consisting of strengths-based inquiry (studying optimal functioning, building a reflective environment, and establishing personal resources) and deficits-based inquiry (learning from challenging issues and ruminating on problems). Findings revealed how coaches used reflective questions to better understand their personal strengths and successful experiences of their respective programmes. Furthermore, by fostering coaches’ sense of gratitude and engagement in social support, strengths-based reflection can build personal resources to enable thriving in demanding situations. However, coaches were inclined towards deficits-based reflections that focused on eradicating performance problems. Although reflecting on errors was important to guide future action and improve performance, fixating on shortcomings could be detrimental to coach well-being. Findings can enhance coaches’ understanding of reflection to manage performance demands by developing personal resources through reflective questions, prompts, and conversations.","PeriodicalId":45934,"journal":{"name":"International Sport Coaching Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"63854337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study used a participatory action research approach to explore the criteria for collaboratively designing culturally relevant Indigenous coach education with Indigenous sport stakeholders from Nova Scotia, Canada. Fourteen Mi’kmaw sport stakeholders, including six coaches (three men and three women), seven administrators (five men and two women), and one Elder (man), participated in the study through methods including online semistructured interviews, unstructured interviews, and focus group discussions to explore their perspectives of how to develop culturally relevant Indigenous coach education. The findings suggest the purpose of designing culturally relevant Indigenous coach education is to enhance cultural pride and support Indigenous coach development. Participants believed these objectives could be fulfilled by addressing topics such as Mi’kmaq culture and history, as well as colonialism. The preferred methods of delivering content included facilitating experiences, storytelling, and mentoring. The findings are interpreted relative to the Calls to Action advanced by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as well as the existing literature on Indigenous coaching and learning. Finally, the Mi’kmaq framework of two-eyed seeing is used to advocate for the bridging of Indigenous and Western perspectives, as a means of decolonizing coach education.
{"title":"Considerations for Designing Indigenous Coach Education","authors":"J. Gurgis, B. Callary, Levi Denny","doi":"10.1123/iscj.2022-0061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2022-0061","url":null,"abstract":"This study used a participatory action research approach to explore the criteria for collaboratively designing culturally relevant Indigenous coach education with Indigenous sport stakeholders from Nova Scotia, Canada. Fourteen Mi’kmaw sport stakeholders, including six coaches (three men and three women), seven administrators (five men and two women), and one Elder (man), participated in the study through methods including online semistructured interviews, unstructured interviews, and focus group discussions to explore their perspectives of how to develop culturally relevant Indigenous coach education. The findings suggest the purpose of designing culturally relevant Indigenous coach education is to enhance cultural pride and support Indigenous coach development. Participants believed these objectives could be fulfilled by addressing topics such as Mi’kmaq culture and history, as well as colonialism. The preferred methods of delivering content included facilitating experiences, storytelling, and mentoring. The findings are interpreted relative to the Calls to Action advanced by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as well as the existing literature on Indigenous coaching and learning. Finally, the Mi’kmaq framework of two-eyed seeing is used to advocate for the bridging of Indigenous and Western perspectives, as a means of decolonizing coach education.","PeriodicalId":45934,"journal":{"name":"International Sport Coaching Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"63854844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sara W. Szabo, Emily Owen, M. Kennedy, Camilla J. Knight
The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to identify who engaged with the Keeping Girls in Sport e-learning program and, second, to evaluate coach and activity leaders’ perceptions of the program and their perceived learnings gained from completing the program. An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was adopted. First, an online survey was distributed to all individuals who had participated in the program. In total, 511 (33% response rate) completed the survey. Quantitative survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Subsequently, interviews were conducted with 20 survey respondents. A realist logic of analysis was applied to the qualitative data, and context–mechanism–outcome configurations were formed. Overall, survey findings indicated that most participants identified as women (56%), coaches (69%), and were between 40 and 49 years of age (37%). In general, participants had positive perceptions of the program. Participants perceived that the accessibility and flexibility of the program increased opportunities to engage with content and, thus, their learning. They described improvements in knowledge and perspective regarding working with female athletes. This increase in knowledge provided participants with confidence to establish trusting and positive relationships with others, specifically parents. Nevertheless, participants highlighted a need for more tailored but also more expansive programs.
{"title":"Keeping Girls in Sport: A Two-Part Evaluation of an E-Learning Program for Coaches and Activity Leaders","authors":"Sara W. Szabo, Emily Owen, M. Kennedy, Camilla J. Knight","doi":"10.1123/iscj.2022-0049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2022-0049","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to identify who engaged with the Keeping Girls in Sport e-learning program and, second, to evaluate coach and activity leaders’ perceptions of the program and their perceived learnings gained from completing the program. An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was adopted. First, an online survey was distributed to all individuals who had participated in the program. In total, 511 (33% response rate) completed the survey. Quantitative survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Subsequently, interviews were conducted with 20 survey respondents. A realist logic of analysis was applied to the qualitative data, and context–mechanism–outcome configurations were formed. Overall, survey findings indicated that most participants identified as women (56%), coaches (69%), and were between 40 and 49 years of age (37%). In general, participants had positive perceptions of the program. Participants perceived that the accessibility and flexibility of the program increased opportunities to engage with content and, thus, their learning. They described improvements in knowledge and perspective regarding working with female athletes. This increase in knowledge provided participants with confidence to establish trusting and positive relationships with others, specifically parents. Nevertheless, participants highlighted a need for more tailored but also more expansive programs.","PeriodicalId":45934,"journal":{"name":"International Sport Coaching Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"63854805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
While the topic of mental health has received growing attention among athletes, coaches’ mental health has not been addressed enough. Therefore, the present study aims to explore the roles that individual (i.e., age, gender, level of qualification, and resilience) and environmental characteristics (i.e., social support) play in aspects of mental illness and mental health among Estonian coaches. A web-based survey was conducted among Estonian coaches which resulted in 182 participants (95 females). The holistic survey included information about the study, a set of demographic questions, and self-reported scales about aspects of mental illnesses and mental health and possible protective factors (i.e., resilience and social support). Results showed that lower resilience predicted higher Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Emotional State Questionnaire-2 (EST-Q2) subscale Depression and Anxiety scores. Resilience and social support were positively correlated. Age was negatively associated with PSS, and EST-Q2 subscale Depression and Anxiety scores. Females’ scores were higher than males’ in PSS and EST-Q2 Anxiety subscale. Path analysis confirmed that the best predictor for PSS and EST-Q2 Depression and Anxiety subscale scores was resilience. Based on the findings, practical recommendations are provided on how to better support coaches.
{"title":"Mental Health Aspects Among Estonian Coaches: The Relationship of Resilience and Social Support With Emotional State, Perceived Stress","authors":"Kristel Kiens, K. Kask, Anna-Liisa Jõgi","doi":"10.1123/iscj.2022-0065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2022-0065","url":null,"abstract":"While the topic of mental health has received growing attention among athletes, coaches’ mental health has not been addressed enough. Therefore, the present study aims to explore the roles that individual (i.e., age, gender, level of qualification, and resilience) and environmental characteristics (i.e., social support) play in aspects of mental illness and mental health among Estonian coaches. A web-based survey was conducted among Estonian coaches which resulted in 182 participants (95 females). The holistic survey included information about the study, a set of demographic questions, and self-reported scales about aspects of mental illnesses and mental health and possible protective factors (i.e., resilience and social support). Results showed that lower resilience predicted higher Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Emotional State Questionnaire-2 (EST-Q2) subscale Depression and Anxiety scores. Resilience and social support were positively correlated. Age was negatively associated with PSS, and EST-Q2 subscale Depression and Anxiety scores. Females’ scores were higher than males’ in PSS and EST-Q2 Anxiety subscale. Path analysis confirmed that the best predictor for PSS and EST-Q2 Depression and Anxiety subscale scores was resilience. Based on the findings, practical recommendations are provided on how to better support coaches.","PeriodicalId":45934,"journal":{"name":"International Sport Coaching Journal","volume":"67 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"63854850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Russell Martindale, Chunxiao Li, Georgios Andronikos, Marziyeh Jafari, R. Badami
The environment plays a significant role in the development of talent athletes. A big part of this is preparing athletes with the psychological skills to cope and thrive through the challenges of their sporting journey. Understanding which features of the talent development environment (TDE) best facilitate psychological skill use would be extremely useful for coaches to understand. As such, the main aim of this research was to investigate the relationships between TDE factors and psychological skills through a variable and person-centered approach (i.e., use of both regression and cluster analyses). A second aim was to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian Talent Development Environment Questionnaire-5 (TDEQ-5) providing an initial validation for its use in Persian speaking cultures. To this end, the TDEQ-5 and Psychological Skills Inventory for Sports—Youth version—Short Form were administered to 371 Iranian athletes. The results showed that higher quality TDEs predicted higher psychological skill use. Specifically, holistic quality preparation predicted all five psychological skills, while long-term development predicted anxiety control and alignment of expectations predicted self-confidence. The Persian TDEQ-5 was found to be a valid and reliable tool. Implications for coaches and those in charge of TDEs are discussed.
{"title":"The Associations Between Talent Development Environments and Psychological Skills in Iranian Youth Athletes: A Variable and Person-Centered Approach","authors":"Russell Martindale, Chunxiao Li, Georgios Andronikos, Marziyeh Jafari, R. Badami","doi":"10.1123/iscj.2022-0053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2022-0053","url":null,"abstract":"The environment plays a significant role in the development of talent athletes. A big part of this is preparing athletes with the psychological skills to cope and thrive through the challenges of their sporting journey. Understanding which features of the talent development environment (TDE) best facilitate psychological skill use would be extremely useful for coaches to understand. As such, the main aim of this research was to investigate the relationships between TDE factors and psychological skills through a variable and person-centered approach (i.e., use of both regression and cluster analyses). A second aim was to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian Talent Development Environment Questionnaire-5 (TDEQ-5) providing an initial validation for its use in Persian speaking cultures. To this end, the TDEQ-5 and Psychological Skills Inventory for Sports—Youth version—Short Form were administered to 371 Iranian athletes. The results showed that higher quality TDEs predicted higher psychological skill use. Specifically, holistic quality preparation predicted all five psychological skills, while long-term development predicted anxiety control and alignment of expectations predicted self-confidence. The Persian TDEQ-5 was found to be a valid and reliable tool. Implications for coaches and those in charge of TDEs are discussed.","PeriodicalId":45934,"journal":{"name":"International Sport Coaching Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"63854939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}