The value of a coach goes beyond the field
The impact of a coach is felt far beyond the sport skills they demonstrate – they also help to improve the health and wellbeing of young people.
A study that examined the association between overall wellbeing and different types of physical activity in youth aged 11-17 years, found those participating in ‘coached sport training’ are more likely to have good wellbeing than those not participating in coached sport.
The key takeaways from this study show that great coaches can create ripple effects for participant wellbeing, which extends beyond their widely accepted impact on confidence, skills and the broader community.
Key takeaways
- Young people who participated in ‘coached sport training’ were 48% more likely to have good wellbeing than those not participating in coached sport training.
- Each additional hour of ‘coached sport training’ increased the likelihood of having good wellbeing by 13%.
- The association between wellbeing and ‘coached sport training’ was stronger than any other type of physical activity e.g. physical education or solo sport.
Conclusion
Coaches can have a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of young people and contribute to ultimately keeping them in the game for longer. Coaches develop more than sporting skills, they are crucial to developing a positive environment where participants of all ages can develop skills, confidence, lifelong friendships and overall better health and wellbeing.
Link to read the full research document
