As conversations regarding the profession of sport coaching and support of coaching as a profession continue to expand, the Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Studies in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences is one of the first programs in the United States to support the academic preparation of potential coaches, coach educators and coaching directors.
Kristen Dieffenbach, associate professor, coaching and performance science, served as guest editor and key contributor for a special issue on sport coaching in the 32nd volume for the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, the official journal of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.
This issue of the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology examines the psychology of sports coaching, the influence coaches have on athletes, the role they can play in overall athletic development and their experiences and preparation as professionals in sport coaching.
“I was excited and honored to be a part of an international team of leaders in sport coaching studies. It provided a great opportunity to have in-depth discussions with top level colleagues in the field about the current research being done related to sport coaching. Additionally, leaders looked at the profession of sport coaching in determining the selection and editing criteria for the special addition,” Dieffenbach said.
“Through this collaboration, I had an opportunity to contribute to the creation of two essential commentary papers for the journal that were designed to highlight important areas and suggest areas within sport coaching and sport coach development where more research is needed,” Dieffenbach said.
According to Dieffenbach, CPASS is taking strides in advancing the support of coaches as professionals and understanding the profession in its entirety.
Along with Dieffenbach, other CPASS graduates and faculty contributed to the journal. Rebecca Zakrajsek, sport and exercise psychology graduate and current associate professor at the University of Tennessee, worked closely with Johannes Raabe, assistant professor, CPASS sport and exercise psychology.
Their article, entitled “Collegiate assistant coaches’ perceptions of basic psychological need satisfaction and thwarting from head coaches: a qualitative investigation,” examines the role head coaches play in fulfilling their basic psychological needs and motivation and basic needs and motivation of their assistant coaches.
Christina Villalon, a second-year doctorate student in the CPASS coaching and teaching studies program, researched and analyzed sport psychological aspects at the high school level. Villalon’s piece, titled “High school coaches’ coaching efficacy: relationship with sport psychology exposure and gender factors,” explored high school coaches’ experience to determine whether sport psychology exposure and gender factors relate to coaching efficacy.
“The research I completed in conjunction with my master's thesis, published in this JASP special issue, was the leading factor contributing to my decision to pursue a focus in coach education and development in my doctoral studies. Building upon previous studies, hopefully these findings continue to inform the ways in which others can support the development of coaches and strengthen the support for why coach education and development is important,” Villalon said.
The Journal of Applied Sport Psychology is designed to advance thought, theory and research on applied aspects of sport and exercise psychology.