The adventure sports coach: All show and no substance?

Paul Gray*, Dave Collins

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The primary objective of this research was to establish the range of interpersonal strategies, tools and techniques used by adventure sports coaches (ASCs) to influence participants’ actions and behaviours, and to determine where these strategies were acquired. An interpretative approach was employed using semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of expert paddlesport coaches (n = 4). Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to get close to the data and identify salient topics. Five themes were subsequently identified as fundamental to effective coach–participant interaction: appropriate environment, stories told, knowing the participant, formal training and situational context. The implications are that whilst ASCs have well-developed intuitive social engagement skills, these are not consciously or declaratively employed in coaching sessions, and neither are they used at strategic levels to enhance participant development. Therefore, a multi-layer approach is recommended to help ASCs access and employ these skills that has consequences for the education, training and continued professional development of ASCs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)160-171
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning
Volume16
Issue number2
Early online date4 Jan 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Apr 2016

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • coach education
  • adventure sports
  • social interactions
  • paddlesports
  • coaching

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