A qualitative investigation into the experience of burnout in Singaporean coaches

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the phenomenon of burnout in the Singaporean coaching population. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four Singaporean coaches with high burnout, and four coaches with low burnout. These coaches were identified using the cluster analysis results from an earlier study. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis to analyse the data, two main coach profiles emerged. The first profile comprised of factors that contributed to coach burnout, as well as the effects of burnout on the lives of coaches. The second profile comprised of factors and characteristics that protected coaches against burnout and helped them to thrive in their role. The two coach profiles were explored in greater depth, and key aspects that were unique to the Singaporean context were highlighted. These included financial struggles, limited facilities, monopolisation by big companies, inadequacy of coach training, dealing with students and parents, toxic coaching culture, perceived favouritism towards foreign coaches, and struggles of female coaches. Practical implications for coaches included inculcating a less outcome-orientated approach towards coaching, seeking good social support, engaging in regular self-care, and gaining more coaching experience

KEYWORDS:

• Coach
• burnout
• Singapore
• Asia
• qualitative

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nathanael C. H. Ong

Nathanael C. H. Ong is a sport psychologist with the Singapore Sport Institute and has research publications in areas such as technology (Dynavision and the Vienna Test System), effects of mental skills on competitive anxiety, cultural and personality factors which affect athlete sport psychology attitudes, and coach burnout.

J. H. Zhao

J. H. Zhao is a sport psychologist with the Singapore Sport Institute and has wide experience working with coaches and athletes of different levels and sports. She specialises in working with Chinese athletes and coaches, and has an in-depth understanding of how they perceive sport psychology.