“One Piece of a Big Puzzle”: Understanding the Roles of Coach Developers Through Interorganizational Relationships in Canada’s Coach Education System

in International Sport Coaching Journal

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Jonathon Edwards University of New Brunswick

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Diane Culver University of Ottawa

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Ross Leadbetter iHub Learning Inc.

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Kate Kloos University of New Brunswick

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Luke Potwarka University of Waterloo

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2019-0014
Keywords:
nationally standardized programs; sport systems; learning facilitator; coach education delivery
In Print:
Volume 7: Issue 1
Page Range:
102–108
Restricted access

Coach developers (CDs) are an integral aspect of the coaching education system in Canada, as they are responsible for the delivery of the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) to coaches. A means of understanding the role of CDs within the Canadian coaching education system is to gain insight into the enablers and challenges of the interorganizational relationships (IORs) between the stakeholders (e.g., organizations, CDs, and coaches). The purpose of this insights paper was to use IORs to understand the CD relationship with other stakeholders in the coach education system as they pertain to enablers and challenges. The use of IORs is a relatively new theoretical concept within the field of coaching and coach education as it pertains to CDs. Through the empirical evidence of three sports—hockey, soccer, and baseball—there were three key themes that were indicative of IORs: the NCCP delivery, communications, and monitoring/evaluating for effectiveness. On the basis of the findings from this current study, the intended system design of the Canadian coaching education system, which is based on role-set IOR, is a vertical model of top-down governance model. On the basis of the findings from this current study, the intended system design of the Canadian coaching education system, which is based on role-set IOR, is a vertical model of top-down governance, where one decision from the top impacts all the other stakeholders within the system.

Edwards is with the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Culver is with the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Leadbetter is with iHub Learning Inc., Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Kloos is with the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Potwarka is with the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Edwards (jonathon.edwards@unb.ca) is corresponding author.
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