Carefully supporting autonomy – learning coaching lessons and advancing theory from women’s netball in England
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Back to Netball (BTN) is an initiative that encourages women, whose engagement has lapsed, to return to regular Netball participation. This study explores what aspects of coaching practice within BTN are perceived to be effective. A thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 28 BTN participants and 6 coaches was undertaken. Analysis identified four pertinent themes; (1) participants personalising sporting experiences through choice, (2) coaches facilitating and / or directing participants to relevant opportunities, (3) critical considerations of autonomy; a need for balance, (4) caring as a coaching ethic. The subsequent discussion considers autonomy and care as two relevant theoretical explanations. Within the discussion, it is posited that autonomy supportive behaviours and caring relationships may be symbiotic features of successful coaching. A novel interdisciplinary theoretical contribution is therefore made by connecting Self Determination Theory with the burgeoning recognition of coaching as a caring practice.
Source: Sports Coaching Review
Institutions: Liverpool John Moores University, Edge Hill University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2788773247