Scholars’ perspectives of positive youth development in coach education for high school sports

Background: Despite the fact that research supports the positive impact coach education has on increasing the quality of athletes’ developmental experiences in sport, there remains resistance regarding the use of positive youth development (PYD) content within coach education. The purpose of the current study is to explore what scholars, who are often viewed as ‘experts,’ believe is important to include in PYD-focused coach education for high school sport coaches. Methods: A set of criteria, which were aligned with the study’s aims, were established to identify potential participants: (a) scholars who studied PYD-focused coach education, sport-based PYD, and/or coach education; (b) scholars who published their work in peer-reviewed journals; and (c) scholars who were aware of the nature of high school sport and/or conducted research focused on this sport context. In total, of 162 scholars from around the world who were recruited, 30 completed the entire questionnaire. Specifically, data were collected using a 20-question online survey as a qualitative research tool to understand scholars’ perceptions of the integration of PYD content in coach education, as well as how coaches may best learn about PYD content. Findings: Findings highlight that scholars believe PYD-focused coach education is relevant for high school coaches and should focus on a variety of components, including life skills, social justice, and mental health literacy. Scholars also purport that holistic athlete development may be an effective overarching framework for coach education. Further, scholars believe that coach learning should be maximized through a combination of formal, non-formal, and informal learning situations and should focus on learner-centered pedagogical strategies. Implications: PYD-focused coach education should help coaches consider technical, tactical, physical, and life skill development as equally important pursuits.