A1 Journal article (refereed)
Coaches’ implementation strategies in providing social support to Singaporean university athletes : A case study (2019)

Koh, K. T., Kokkonen, M., & Law, H. R. B. (2019). Coaches’ implementation strategies in providing social support to Singaporean university athletes : A case study. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 14(5), 681-693. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954119876099

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Koh, K. T.; Kokkonen, M.; Law, H. R. B.

Journal or series: International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching

ISSN: 1747-9541

eISSN: 2048-397X

Publication year: 2019

Volume: 14

Issue number: 5

Pages range: 681-693

Publisher: Sage Publications

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954119876099

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/65582

Abstract

Coaches are effective providers of social support to their athletes. Although sport-specific measures of social support have been developed to better understand athletes’ perceptions of available support, limited amount of research has addressed how sport coaches implement specific social support strategies. The purpose of this study was to examine university coaches’ implementation strategies in providing various forms of social support to their athletes. A total of eight sport coaches from team and individual sports (four from each sport) were purposefully selected for this study. Coaches were individually interviewed. The interview transcripts were analysed using a thematic analysis. The results revealed that coaches from different sports shared similar strategies across emotional, esteem, informational and tangible dimensions, but with some distinguishable differences in the way these strategies were implemented. In documenting the lived experiences of sport coaches, key strategies valued highly among these coaches were highlighted, providing important implications for coaches to know how to incorporate these strategies into their coaching practice to better support athletes’ well-being and improve the quality of coaching. The findings also provide an implementation framework of social support that emphasizes key strategies for coaches to focus on in their coaching approaches.

Keywords: athletes; well-being; coaching; coaches (occupations); universities

Free keywords: athlete well-being; coaching practice; varsity sport

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2019

JUFO rating: 1