Challenges and Opportunities for Community Sport Coach Development: An appreciative inquiry project

Justine Allen; Reece Chapman; Adam Nichol; Amy Whitehead; Karen Johns; Mark Carroll; John Hayton; Alexandra Lascu; Edward Hall; Paul Potrac; Angus Ryrie; Colum Cronin

Challenges and Opportunities for Community Sport Coach Development: An appreciative inquiry project

Justine Allen, Reece Chapman, Adam Nichol, Amy Whitehead, Karen Johns, Mark Carroll, John Hayton, Alexandra Lascu, Edward Hall, Paul Potrac, Angus Ryrie, Colum Cronin

Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation Department

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Community coaches form the lifeblood of community sport and yet they can feel overwhelmed by the tasks involved in coaching. Personalised support is likely to come through key personnel in coaches’ own settings, however, little is known about those who hold formal or informal coach developer roles in community sport. This article provides a short overview of a UK Coaching-funded project we conducted. We used appreciative inquiry-framed workshops to explore the everyday challenges experienced by community sport coaches and coach developers. The workshops were also a pilot support process . A selection of insights gained are presented through a creative non-fiction narrative, along with recommendations from the wider project.

Original language	English
Journal	UK Coaching Research Journal
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 30 Apr 2025

Research Group keywords

Sports Coach Education

Cite this

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AU - Allen, Justine

AU - Chapman, Reece

AU - Nichol, Adam

AU - Whitehead, Amy

AU - Johns, Karen

AU - Carroll, Mark

AU - Hayton, John

AU - Lascu, Alexandra

AU - Hall, Edward

AU - Potrac, Paul

AU - Ryrie, Angus

AU - Cronin, Colum

PY - 2025/4/30

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AB - Community coaches form the lifeblood of community sport and yet they can feel overwhelmed by the tasks involved in coaching. Personalised support is likely to come through key personnel in coaches’ own settings, however, little is known about those who hold formal or informal coach developer roles in community sport. This article provides a short overview of a UK Coaching-funded project we conducted. We used appreciative inquiry-framed workshops to explore the everyday challenges experienced by community sport coaches and coach developers. The workshops were also a pilot support process . A selection of insights gained are presented through a creative non-fiction narrative, along with recommendations from the wider project.

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