Learning through experience: Using anecdote circles to identify coaching shortcomings and characteristics of a good coach

Over the past decades sport has been occupying increasing amount of attention from both a spectator as well as a participant viewpoint. It is closely linked human, social and economic development impacts significantly on the lives of individuals and communities. Sport is seen as a vehicle to harness the energy and spirit of youth toward constructive and formalised activity. In many instances this requires guidance and instruction otherwise the youth would wander aimlessly in activities without achieving the benefits associated with their participation in sport. In this regard sport coaches play a vital role. Despite the critical role that they play in youth sport, very little attempt has been made to identify coaching shortcomings and the characteristics of a coach from the coach’s perspective. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the afore-mentioned qualitatively. A narrative research approach using anecdote circles was employed. Narrative research is a strategy of inquiry in which the researcher studies the lives of individuals and asks one or more individuals to provide stories about their lives. Anecdote circles were used as it is convenient, saves time and costs in terms of gathering stories and data is obtained from the most appropriate source. Eight male volunteer coaches who coached at high schools constituted the sample for the study. These coaches also coached the youth voluntarily in their communities. Two coaches were initially identified for the study and the balance was identified through snowball sampling. Twelve clusters emerged through the content analysis of the data. They were ability to learn, problematic athletes, response to pressure, coaching shortcomings, coach characteristics, external role players, resources, coaching roles, player optimism, work/family balance, incentives and teamwork. For the purpose of this paper the coaching shortcomings and coach characteristics clusters were considered. The issues regarding coaching shortcomings were associated with planning, managing teams and players and building confidence in players. There were several characteristics of coaches that emerged during the anecdote circles. The common threads which emerged through an examination of the characteristics were coaching behaviours, interaction with others, and dedication and commitment to coaching and the sport being coached. The findings of the study highlighted significant life experiences of the coaches which contributed to their problem solving skills, planning of coaching sessions and maintaining strong relationships with their athletes.