Sport coaching context and social organization

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how coaching context relates to behaviors and attitudes in youth sports; different types of sporting contexts determine different approaches and needs in coaching. Nine coaches from a social and a professional sport setting were interviewed. Methods such as semi-structured interviews and participant observation were used in data collection and data was analyzed through content analysis. Coaches are key aspects to training and their perception of social organizational climate can play an important role in youths’ personal development. The study provides more information about the need to create nurturing environments for talented athletes’ program. The study also stresses the way organization and structure influence the way coaches look at competition and training, highlighting the issue of sport settings as a factor that may distinguish between coaches’ orientations at different contexts. Finally, the sporting context and its relation to developing skills were analyzed. The current results have implications for both coaching youth sport and for the educational programs of these coaches in other countries and sport systems.