Insights Call to Action
Build a Clear Picture of Coaching Through Research & Data
To move coaching research forward, we need better national data on coaches, kids and communities. With nationally representative samples and inclusive methods, we can identify needs, gaps, and solutions. Progress requires buy-in from schools and community actors, strong incentives, and research that reflects the voices of coaches, athletes, and program leaders.
→What this looks like when we get it right: Communities, schools, programs, coaches and kids involved in sport are reflected in research and national data systems that shape the support coaches and athletes need.
→Who can drive this change? Sports Governance; Program Operators; Data & Research; Non-Government Funders & Subsidiaries; Government Institution
Why This Issue
Right now, there’s no consistent national picture of who is coaching, where they’re coaching, and what support they need. For this reason, the Olympic Commission called for a national registry of youth coaches (See Recommendation 11).
Clearly, we need to strengthen our research and data systems and build a better understanding of the experiences, needs, and challenges of coaches and youth sport participants nationwide.
Getting Started
Coordinate a nationwide effort. To succeed, we need collaboration across the youth sport ecosystem:
- Coaching organizations and sport governing bodies must help shape the national research agenda and commit to using the results. They’re also the leaders who can reach coaches on the ground with clear, actionable strategies.
- Researchers can design studies that capture perceptions and behaviors of coaches and athletes in different contexts.
- Youth sport leaders play a key role in providing access to the people and programs that need to be included in large studies. Incentives can also help bring coaches, administrators, and organizations to the table.
- Funders and policymakers should invest in national studies, support data collection, and help turn findings into practical improvements in coaching and youth sport systems.
Invest in inclusive, national-scale research. Research that reflects the wide range of sport settings, communities, and coach experiences across the country will be a significant step forward. That includes young people from all kinds of backgrounds and programs, as well as coaches at every level – from local volunteers who’ve never coached before to trained professionals. Such work exists for teachers.
It’s time for action. Otherwise, we’ll continue to rely on disconnected data and miss the chance to give coaches what they need to make sport better for all.
Game Changing Content
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| State of Play Report | Coaching trends from Aspen Institute annual national report |
| Leadership and Diversity in the NCAA | Knight Commission report on race/ethnic and gender representation in leadership within intercollegiate athletics |
| Occupational Outlook for Coaches & Scouts | Facts summary from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics around pay and employment outlook for coaching in the U.S. |
| Women in College Coaching Report Card | Report on the status of women in college coaching from the Tucker Center at the University of Minnesota |