Why do individuals seek out adventure sport coaching?

ABSTRACT

Individualisation is a key aspect of coaching practice. This is particularly important for adventure sport coaches, given the demands of the hyper-dynamic coaching environment and the various motivations to participate in adventure sports. However, the literature on individualisation is limited. As a logical beginning, the aim of this study is to understand why individuals seek coaching in the context of adventure sports. Semi-structured interviews with adventure sport clients (N = 15) were thematically analysed, revealing that clients seek three different but not mutually exclusive experiences: holistic, authentic, and developmental. Importantly, the extent to which each experience was desired varied between individuals. These differences in individual desires place a fundamental emphasis on coaches’ understanding of why an individual seeks coaching as well as their longer-term participation goals, and then having the adaptive expertise to meet those expectations. Further research is required to understand how aspects of the developmental experience are achieved, specifically in the desired contexts.

KEYWORDS:

• Adaptive expertise
• adventure sports
• adventure sport coaching
• individualisation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chris Eastabrook

Chris Eastabrook is an experienced adventure sport coach, specialising in paddlesport with BCU Level 5 coach award.  He is currently a teacher of outdoor learning at an independent school in North Wales, with recent experience teaching undergraduate outdoor leaders.  He is a doctorate student with a research interest in coach and leadership education in this realm.

Loel Collins

Loel Collins has worked as the Director of the National Whitewater Centre and as Head of the Paddlesport Department at the National Mountain Centre.  He is a BCU level 5 Coach in all recreational disciplines (whitewater, sea and surf kayak, canoe).  He currently teaches at the University of Central Lancashire on the undergraduate degrees and the postgraduate programmes in the Institute of Coaching and Performance.  His research has focussed on the specifics of coaching adventure sports and understanding professional judgement and decision-making, teaching, learning and education of leaders and coaches in dynamic environments.