Abstract
Recent reviews of Coach Development Programs (CDPs) have revealed that the uptake and relevance of CDPs may be enhanced by focusing on coaches' interpersonal knowledge and behaviours (Lefebvre et al., 2016) and using theoretical frameworks to plan and evaluate these programs (Evans et al., 2016). One framework that may hold significant potential for planning and evaluating CDPs is the Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) Framework (Klesges et al., 2005). As such, the purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of coaches' perceptions of their experiences with CDPs and recommendations for designing an interpersonal focused CDP grounded in transformational leadership theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 youth sport coaches from a variety of contexts. Interview data were analyzed using an inductive-deductive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), with RE-AIM as the deductive guiding framework. Results revealed 8 themes that would optimize the domains of the RE-AIM framework for planning and evaluating a transformational coaching CDP. Findings indicated that (a) using reputable sources (Reach), (b) adopting a person-centered approach and (c) facilitating participant engagement (Effectiveness), (d) establishing credibility and (e) providing incentives (Adoption), (f) enhancing accessibility and (g) using qualified educators (Implementation), and (h) creating sustainable connections (Maintenance). These findings provide theoretical insight in regard to using the RE-AIM framework as a planning and evaluation tool for CDPs. Practical recommendations for researchers and practitioners who wish to integrate RE-AIM into the design, implementation, or evaluation of CDPs, as well as potential avenues for future research are discussed.
