Bridging the post-school institutional gap in sport: evaluating champion coaching in Nottinghamshire

Abstract

Drop out from youth sport is a world-wide phenomenon and concern (de Knop et al., 1996). This study examines the outcome from participation by 11-14-year-olds in Nottinghamshire Sports Training, a scheme to encourage young people to taste, train, improve and become excellent in a range of sports in nine local authorities, with 80 venues and 200 coaches. Postal surveys of 352 children and 300 parents and interviews with managers, coaches and club officials showed a very high satisfaction rating with the quality of organization coaching and care in clubs, but also concerns including two out of five children claiming not to have information about 'exit routes' from the schemes for continuing to play; and a disproportionately small number from deprived areas. This poses a challenge for new youth sport schemes in the UK.