Article: Future Directions in Coaching Life Skills: Understanding High School Coaches’ Views and Needs (Daniel Gould, Yongchul Chung, Paige Smith, and Jackie White)
The article discusses the study designed to assess the knowledge of the social and personal issues by high school players and the possible perceived roles of coaches in developing the life skills in players. The focus on sports as the method to develop life skills in students has increased and the coaches play a significant role in this. The personal development facilitated by coaches and their role in it has evolved as a subject of research. This study focuses on the social problems faced and life skills development knowledge of coaches of high school.
The study comprises of sample size of 497 head coaches of North Carolina high school varsity. The study used the survey methodology with the survey questions based on six parts, namely demographics, objectives of coaching, character development through sports, issues faced in sports, coaches role and influence of coach on athletes. In total 99 items were in the survey, based on Likert scale responses. In the sample size of 497, the number of coaches of boy and girls were kept equally that is 249 and 248 respectively. The survey was conducted through mail, the survey was sent to the respondents through mail and results received through mail were analyzed for result.
154 coaches participated in the study and had coached for average 12.2 years with mean age of 40.5 years and spent average 24.3 hours per week on coaching activity. The coaching objective rated highest was to “help young people develop psychologically and socially” followed by “help young people develop physically and learn physical skills” (Gould et al, 2006). Moreover, coaches agreed that value of hard work, teamwork, goal setting and time management skills are developed with participation in high school sports. Coaches identified the significant issues as the “failure to take responsibility for one’s action” and motivation lack.
Further study to assess the development of life skills by coaches would be an interesting study along with the different levels of life skills self-demonstrated by coaches which influences the high school athletes.
References
Daniel Gould, Yongchul Chung, Paige Smith, and Jackie White. (2006). Future Directions in Coaching Life Skills: Understanding High School Coaches’ Views and Needs. Athletic Insight , 8 (3), 28-38.
