Sports coaches’ mentorship: experience and a suggested future framework

Authors

  • Jake Bailey Cardiff Metropolitan University
  • Robyn L Jones Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences. Cardiff Metropolitan University & The University College of Southeast Norway
  • Wayne Allison League Managers Association

Abstract

Introduction: Mentoring is widely advocated as an important component of coach learning, both informally and as a constituent feature of coach development programmes. However, despite its ubiquity, there remains a paucity of empirical evidence to support mentoring’s use in practice. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to present an empirical case study of a formalised mentoring programme as experienced by the mentors, and to contribute towards a critical conceptualisation of mentoring in sports coaching. Materials and methods: Eight mentors participated in the study, all being employed on a formalised mentoring programme. Data collection occurred over the 18-month duration of the programme to respect the longitudinal nature of the mentoring process. The data were analysed thematically. Results: The results emphasised the need for a clearer conceptualisation of mentoring to successfully operationalise practice. Although the relational aspect of the role was deemed crucial, developing reciprocity was challenging. This was because of the limited shared or critical understanding of the role among the participants. Discussion: Building on the portrayal of mentoring depicted in the results, we subsequently position mentoring as a relational and contextualized activity. In doing so, we claim a more realistic, coherent and effective pedagogy of mentoring.

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Author Biographies

Jake Bailey, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Principal Lecturer in Sports Coaching

Cardiff School of Sport and Health Science

Robyn L Jones, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences. Cardiff Metropolitan University & The University College of Southeast Norway

Professor of Sport and Social Theory

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Published

2019-12-31

Issue

Section

Original Research