From the athletes' perspective: How do coaches shape the quality of athletes' experiences in parasport?

Abstract

While coaches of able-bodied athletes have been studied extensively, empirical research examining parasport coaching practices remains largely limited. In other words, although coaches are commonly recognized for their important role in the sport environment, few studies have explored the influence of coaches on athletes' experiences in parasport. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore athletes' perceptions of how coaches shape the quality of their experiences in parasport throughout development. As part of a larger study examining the factors that influence the quality of parasport participation, a diverse sample of athletes with physical disabilities (N = 21) participated in a two-part life history interview. After broadly outlining their sport history, participants responded to questions targeting the role that coaches played in shaping their experiences. These experiences were the foundation of participants' broader conversations about effective coaching in parasport. Using a thematic analysis, three overarching themes were identified and interpreted as pillars of quality coaching in parasport: (a) consideration, (b) collaboration, and (c) professionalism. How the three pillars are balanced to create quality experiences for athletes was related to the specific coaching context, ranging from entry-level or recreational to the developmental stream and high performance. Juxtaposed against these themes, athletes also described ineffective coaching practices stemming from experiences of ableism in parasport. Whereas these findings reveal nuances to effective parasport coaching, the resulting themes are situated within established theories about coaching and leadership in numerous domains. Practical recommendations for parasport practitioners are discussed.

Acknowledgments: This research was supported by a Coaching Association of Canada grant awarded to Jean Côté and a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship awarded to Veronica Allan (Award # 767-2015-1633).