Mentoring as a Formalized Learning Strategy with Community Sports Volunteers

Abstract

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Understanding Sources of Knowledge for Coaches of Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities

“…To date, research on mentorship in sport has shown mixed results. Griffiths & Armour (2012) report that mentorship programs are difficult to establish in sport organizations, such as SOC, that rely on volunteer coaches. Alternatively, a review of literature on mentoring conducted by Jones et al (2009) concluded that there is currently a lack of knowledge available to determine the best-practices with respect to mentoring in the sport domain.…”

The Youth Soccer Coaches’ Visions and Thoughts of Leader Support

“…Echoing Griffiths, and Armour (2012), mentorship could occur within clubs in a system where experienced coaches support beginning coaches, an arrangement supported by the idea of situated learning (Lave, & Wenger, 1991). The concept of coaching pods, as introduced by Gilbert, and Trudel (2001), can serve as exchange networks between coaches from different clubs.…”

“…Coaches need support and, for example, Ryan and Sagas (2011) found that supervisory support for coaches reduced conflicts and enriched their work. Gilbert, and Trudel (2001, p. 32) argued that "coaching podsˮ, where "coaches of teams within similar athlete age groups form a peer network and discuss coaching issuesˮ, can serve as useful support structures for coaches in community-based sports associations, Griffiths, and Armour (2012) have suggested that mentoring can develop voluntary coaches' competence. Coaching is often a practical activity, and coaches may require support in coaching practice to adapt to their specific contexts (Nelson, Cushion, & Potrac, 2013;Camiré, Trudel, & Forneris, 2014).…”

“…"it is understandable that sports performance is seen as the clubs' core-business, but… it is disappointing from the health promotion perspective that clubs are not fulfilling own stated healthy lifestyle objectivesˮ (Kokko et al, 2011, p. 459). Griffiths and Armour (2012) stress that coaches need support and education if sports associations are to realise those health benefits. This aligns with the work of Surujlal, and Nguyen (2011), who argue that coaches' own health and wellbeing is a prerequisite to educate and inspire others.…”

“More Practice-based Courses and Not Just a Load of Papers to Read”: Youth Soccer Coaches Reflections on Coach Education Programs in Sweden

“…It would though be rash to believe that coaches are uninterested in learning and developing their coaching skills. Being a coach is practical, and coaches ask for support including mentorship and other methods to adapt to their specific contexts (Nelson, Cushion & Potrac, 2013;Camiré, Trudel & Forneris, 2014;Griffiths & Armour, 2012). This means that coaches ask for learning environments which supports their ongoing development as coaches, which is also acknowledged in a number of countries (Cassidy & Kidman, 2010;Jones, Harris & Miles, 2009).…”