Abstract
The importance that people attribute to a particular role they occupy has significant implications on their behavior (Stryker & Burke, 2000). Therefore, following the theoretical framework of Identity Theory, the purpose of the present study was to conduct an exploratory study to gain an understanding of the importance coaches ascribe to their role as a coach. Participants included 4 male, and 3 female coaches, who ranged in age from 22 to 61 (M = 42.86; SD = 14.40) years of age, and who reported coaching male (n = 1), female (n = 4), or both genders (n = 2) of athletes. Furthermore, participants indicated that they had coached between 5 and 35 (M = 17.57; SD = 10.44) years, were certified with the National Coaching Certification Program at level 2 (n = 3), level 3 (n = 1), or level 4 (n = 3), and primarily coached fastball, football, rowing, rugby, synchronized swimming, and track and field. Participants were recruited to participate in a semi-standardized interview through personal correspondence with the researchers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and then NVIVO 9 was utilized to assist with the data analysis. Three primary themes emerged from the data; the self, emotions, and passion. Findings of the present study will contribute to the need within Identity Theory literature for measurement development and refinement (Stryker & Burke, 2000) by generating a list of items that will be used to formulate an instrument designed to assess coach identity salience.Acknowledgments: Funding provided to the primary researcher by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada