Applied Coaching Research Journal Research Journal Volume 3 | Page 38
APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2019, Vol. 3
Theme 3: A web of care
Interestingly, theme 3 demonstrates that this
dialogue does not always need to be provided by
the coach. Other individuals in the club have also
provided care to these players at times during their
careers. For example:
I see the girls more than I do my family. I really
enjoy it…I love going and seeing all the girls, even
the manager. We all get on and it’s like our own little
family. Sounds cringe, but it’s true. Conclusions, recommendations and future work
This study of early career women footballers
demonstrated how coaches’ care can have a positive
impact on athletes’ experiences. Through the lens
of the participant, care can be both supportive and
challenging, but nonetheless involves attention
as evidenced through appropriate dialogue,
consent and an empathetic concern for players.
Unfortunately, participants also reported uncaring
acts which were characterised by a lack of dialogue,
disinterest in the athlete as an individual, and a
selfish concern for the coach’s own interests.
Such findings are consistent with Noddings (2013)
work, in schools which aspired for a caring climate,
with a feeling of warmth, support and stability.
Noddings argued that such climates can be
developed when powerful individuals (eg coaches
or popular athletes in a sporting context), model and
reward caring behaviours. Based on this, Fry and
Gano-Overway (2017) measured caring climates in
sporting environments and found that behaviours
such as listening, supporting and empowering can
develop caring climates. Consistent with this, one
participant described how a coach led to such a
climate: Coaches should take action by considering how
they care and enact dialogue (eg Do they use text
appropriately? Do they show concern?). Coaches
may also consider how caring behaviours are
exhibited and valued (eg How do they reinforce
caring behaviours?). For coaching researchers, the
study of women’s football is an interesting starting
point for gathering the perceptions of athletes in
the UK. Further and broader studies are required
to ensure that coaches and coaching are informed
by the experiences of athletes. Such studies are
necessary to move beyond a minimum standard
approach to duty of care.
Because I was so far away from home, I was so
lucky to have a physio, support team and coach like
them, they were my first go to with anything.
The girls are like my sisters. I’ve got their back and
they’ve got mine.
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Her (the coach) caring for us is probably what’s
made us so tight knit as a group. We want to go
out and graft together because we are as close as
a family. Without her caring for us, we probably
wouldn’t even have any of that to be honest.