Non-Sport Education and Experience Influence on Volunteer Youth Sport Coaching Styles: A Qualitative Study

There are approximately 4 million adults many of them parents that are involved as volunteer youth sport coaches. Volunteer youth sports coaches (VYSC) often have not received formal coaches training to prepare them adequately for the role of youth sport coach and are reluctant to receive or participate in such training. The development of a coaching philosophy or coaching style provides the foundation for volunteer youth sport coaches and athletes to learn in a consistent and coherent manner. The purpose if this qualitative study was to ascertain if the non-sport education, qualitative study was to ascertain if the non-sport education, training and managerial/leadership experience of a volunteer youth sport coach influences the development and use of cooperative coaching style. Participants included six volunteer youth sport coaches of children ages 5-14 in a variety of sports. The participants in the study did not have any formalized training in coaching philosophy/style. The multiple-case study approach included in-depth interviews, containing 20 open-ended questions developed by the researcher to ascertain the VYSCs' perspectives on non-sport influences on their coaching styles. The findings revealed the VYSCs' coaching style was influenced by observation and experience with their VYSC from their past. In addition VYSCs identified several non -sport skills they acquired through training and leadership experiences in the workplace, school, and community. The participants classified the non-sport skills that transferred into coaching into themes; communication, public speaking, group dynamics, team building and ethics. The VYSCs reported improved coaching efficacy as their non-sport skills improved. The participants adapted their coaching styles based on the needs of the teams, following a similar leadership pattern as described in the Life --Cycle theory. It is recommended that youth sport organizations provide VYSC's with resources or training in non-sport skills to aid in the development and use of a cooperative coaching style. Future research is recommended to explore and observe VYSC's non-sport skills in the field.