Handbook of Sport Coaching Research
Published on 15. May 2026
Book
Hardback
328 pages
978-1-0353-4163-4 (ISBN)
Description
This enlightening Handbook draws on a broad array of interdisciplinary fields to provide a nuanced exploration of contemporary research in sports coaching. Esteemed scholars assess cutting edge scholarship, uncovering potential tensions and contestations while encouraging future debate.
Chapters examine methodological conventions, theoretical contributions and practical implications of coaching sport in different contexts. Across four sections focussing on perspectives from psychology, pedagogy and sociology and future research avenues, international scholars explore a range of key themes and underpinnings of the field. Authors assess topics such as coaching young and adult athletes, using technological innovations and self-development and burnout in coaches. They also draw from a range of perspectives including critical disability studies, poststructuralism and Indigenous knowledge.
The Handbook of Sport Coaching Research is an essential resource for students and academics in sports management, education, psychology, sociology, business and management and economics. It is also a valuable reference for sports practitioners, managers and educators looking to understand past and future sports coaching research.
Chapters examine methodological conventions, theoretical contributions and practical implications of coaching sport in different contexts. Across four sections focussing on perspectives from psychology, pedagogy and sociology and future research avenues, international scholars explore a range of key themes and underpinnings of the field. Authors assess topics such as coaching young and adult athletes, using technological innovations and self-development and burnout in coaches. They also draw from a range of perspectives including critical disability studies, poststructuralism and Indigenous knowledge.
The Handbook of Sport Coaching Research is an essential resource for students and academics in sports management, education, psychology, sociology, business and management and economics. It is also a valuable reference for sports practitioners, managers and educators looking to understand past and future sports coaching research.
Reviews / Votes
'Sport coaching is dynamic and complex. This timely, comprehensive Handbook assembles global experts to integrate diverse paradigmatic perspectives and provide cross-disciplinary insights. It advances the field through clear, forward-looking research agendas. Highly recommended for scholars, coach educators, policymakers, and practitioners committed to innovation and excellence in evidence-informed coaching practice.' -- Koon Teck Koh, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 'The Handbook builds upon existing sport coaching research, yet because the authors draw on psychological, pedagogical, and sociocultural perspectives it captures the diversity of the research and provides new insights into coaching practice. The Handbook provides a contemporary view into the rigorous research conducted by the best in the field.' -- Tania Cassidy, University of Otago, New Zealand 'This outstanding Handbook is a landmark contribution to sport coaching research-rigorous, forward-thinking, and richly interdisciplinary. Bringing together world-leading scholars, it masterfully synthesizes psychological, pedagogical, and sociocultural insights while boldly charting future directions. A definitive, inspiring resource that elevates the field and challenges readers to think anew about coaching.' -- Sergio Lara-Bercial, Leeds Beckett University, UK 'The Handbook of Sport Coaching Research is an excellent resource for researchers, practitioners and students to understand the current state of play in coaching research. The leading researchers from around the world share in-depth insights into key topics and challenges related to the contribution of research to coaching practice.' -- John Bales, International Council for Coaching Excellence, Canada 'The Handbook is a response to and a welcome addition to what is now a mature academic research domain. Although inevitably selective, it reflects major themes relating to sport coaching research. Particularly welcome are questions about the role of the researcher and a more critical and conceptually sound approach to research in this domain.' -- John Lyle, Leeds Beckett University, UKMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 169 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-4163-4 (9781035341634)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by Bettina Callary, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Sport Coaching and Adult Learning, Department of Experiential Studies in Community and Sport, Cape Breton University, Canada, Gordon A. Bloom, Professor of Sport Psychology, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Canada, Steven B. Rynne, Associate Professor, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia and Brian T. Gearity, Professor, Kinesiology and Sport Studies, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, University of Denver, USA
Content
Contents
1 Understanding sport coaching as a dynamic and contested research domain 1
Bettina Callary, Gordon A. Bloom, Steven B. Rynne, and Brian T. Gearity
2 From then to now: a short history of sport coaching research 11
Wade Gilbert
PART I SPORT COACHING RESEARCH FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
3 A reflection tool to foster transformational coaching behaviors 22
Mia Kurtz Favero, Jordan S. Lefebvre, Jennifer Turnnidge, and Jean Cote
4 Coaching life skills in youth athletes 34
Scott Pierce and Daniel Gould
5 Integrating technology into coaching and the coach-athlete relationship 44
Douglas Stewart and Sophia Jowett
6 The role of passion in sport coaching 57
Robert J. Vallerand, Jeremie Verner-Filion, and Benjamin J.I. Schellenberg
7 Coach burnout 68
Goeran Kenttae and Thomas D. Raedeke
8 Mentoring and developmental networks 80
Jordan S. Lefebvre, Danielle Alexander-Urquhart, Koon Teck Koh, and Gordon A. Bloom
9 Elite sport coaches as architects, sculptors, leaders, and performers 92
Clifford J. Mallett, V. Vanessa Wergin, and James Coleman
PART II SPORT COACHING RESEARCH FROM PEDAGOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
10 The constraints-led approach: how skill acquisition principles can inform learning design in sport 106
Adam D. Gorman, Keith Davids, Brendan Moy, and Ian Renshaw
11 Creating coaching episodes for retrieval and creativity using The Spectrum of Coaching Styles and Game Based Approaches 116
Brendan SueSee and Shane Pill
12 Sport coaching research using an andragogical perspective 129
Bettina Callary
13 Towards effectiveness of leaner-centered pedagogical practices in coach education: the urgency of designing learner-centered curriculums 140
Michel Milistetd and Lincoln Cruz Martins
14 Tangohia te awe mapara: Maori pedagogies in sport coaching 152
Jeremy Hapeta, Luke Rowe, Mohi Rua, and Isaac Warbrick
15 Getting to the heart of the matter: coaching as socio-pedagogic practice 168
Robyn L. Jones, GethinL. Thomas, and Charles L. T. Corsby
PART III SPORT COACHING RESEARCH FROM SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVE
16 Women sport coaches, gender essentialism, and media representations 180
Claire Wanzer, Anna Goorevich, and Nicole M. LaVoi
17 Understanding dis/ableism in sport coaching 192
Robert C. Townsend, Kelsey Randrup, Olivia Clare, and William M. Roberts
18 The scholar-coach undone: poststructural sport coaching inquiry 203
Sara Campbell, Brian T. Gearity, Clayton Kuklick, and Joseph Mills
19 Intersectionality and positionality in youth sport coaching: implications for research 216
Tarkington J. Newman, Fernando Santos, and Marta Ferreira
20 Doing critical coaching research: issues and opportunities 230
Christopher Cushion
PART IV SPORT COACHING RESEARCH FUTURE DIRECTIONS
21 A nudge to sport coaching scholarship and the 'researcher-developer' or 'developer-researcher' role 246
Julian North
22 Futures in sport coaching: new materialisms and the doing of agential realism 262
Allison Jeffrey, Pirkko Markula, and Marianne Clark
23 Digital technology in coach learning and development 274
Katherine A. O'Brien and Andrew Kennedy
24 Coaches' roles and needs around safeguarding sport 285
Joseph Gurgis, Gretchen Kerr, and Ashley Stirling
25 The sport coaching researcher: one actor in a complex world 298
Pierre Trudel and Bettina Callary
1 Understanding sport coaching as a dynamic and contested research domain 1
Bettina Callary, Gordon A. Bloom, Steven B. Rynne, and Brian T. Gearity
2 From then to now: a short history of sport coaching research 11
Wade Gilbert
PART I SPORT COACHING RESEARCH FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
3 A reflection tool to foster transformational coaching behaviors 22
Mia Kurtz Favero, Jordan S. Lefebvre, Jennifer Turnnidge, and Jean Cote
4 Coaching life skills in youth athletes 34
Scott Pierce and Daniel Gould
5 Integrating technology into coaching and the coach-athlete relationship 44
Douglas Stewart and Sophia Jowett
6 The role of passion in sport coaching 57
Robert J. Vallerand, Jeremie Verner-Filion, and Benjamin J.I. Schellenberg
7 Coach burnout 68
Goeran Kenttae and Thomas D. Raedeke
8 Mentoring and developmental networks 80
Jordan S. Lefebvre, Danielle Alexander-Urquhart, Koon Teck Koh, and Gordon A. Bloom
9 Elite sport coaches as architects, sculptors, leaders, and performers 92
Clifford J. Mallett, V. Vanessa Wergin, and James Coleman
PART II SPORT COACHING RESEARCH FROM PEDAGOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
10 The constraints-led approach: how skill acquisition principles can inform learning design in sport 106
Adam D. Gorman, Keith Davids, Brendan Moy, and Ian Renshaw
11 Creating coaching episodes for retrieval and creativity using The Spectrum of Coaching Styles and Game Based Approaches 116
Brendan SueSee and Shane Pill
12 Sport coaching research using an andragogical perspective 129
Bettina Callary
13 Towards effectiveness of leaner-centered pedagogical practices in coach education: the urgency of designing learner-centered curriculums 140
Michel Milistetd and Lincoln Cruz Martins
14 Tangohia te awe mapara: Maori pedagogies in sport coaching 152
Jeremy Hapeta, Luke Rowe, Mohi Rua, and Isaac Warbrick
15 Getting to the heart of the matter: coaching as socio-pedagogic practice 168
Robyn L. Jones, GethinL. Thomas, and Charles L. T. Corsby
PART III SPORT COACHING RESEARCH FROM SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVE
16 Women sport coaches, gender essentialism, and media representations 180
Claire Wanzer, Anna Goorevich, and Nicole M. LaVoi
17 Understanding dis/ableism in sport coaching 192
Robert C. Townsend, Kelsey Randrup, Olivia Clare, and William M. Roberts
18 The scholar-coach undone: poststructural sport coaching inquiry 203
Sara Campbell, Brian T. Gearity, Clayton Kuklick, and Joseph Mills
19 Intersectionality and positionality in youth sport coaching: implications for research 216
Tarkington J. Newman, Fernando Santos, and Marta Ferreira
20 Doing critical coaching research: issues and opportunities 230
Christopher Cushion
PART IV SPORT COACHING RESEARCH FUTURE DIRECTIONS
21 A nudge to sport coaching scholarship and the 'researcher-developer' or 'developer-researcher' role 246
Julian North
22 Futures in sport coaching: new materialisms and the doing of agential realism 262
Allison Jeffrey, Pirkko Markula, and Marianne Clark
23 Digital technology in coach learning and development 274
Katherine A. O'Brien and Andrew Kennedy
24 Coaches' roles and needs around safeguarding sport 285
Joseph Gurgis, Gretchen Kerr, and Ashley Stirling
25 The sport coaching researcher: one actor in a complex world 298
Pierre Trudel and Bettina Callary