“From a Learning Perspective, It’s a Better Way for Them to Learn”: Impact of an Education Program on Two Youth Soccer Coaches’ Perspectives and Practices

Purpose: To describe the following: (a) the impact of a progressive coach education program (CEP) on two grassroots youth soccer coaches’ perspectives and practices, and (b) the factors that helped and hindered the CEP’s effectiveness. Methods: Occupational socialization theory framed the study. Andros and Christian were observed during the CEP and pre- and post-CEP while coaching practices and games. Data were collected with four qualitative techniques and two systematic observation instruments. Qualitative data were reduced to themes by employing analytic induction and constant comparison. Descriptive statistics were computed for the categories in the systematic observation instruments. Findings: The CEP had a significant impact on Andros and a negligible one on Christian. The two coaches’ occupational socialization helped explain these differential effects. Conclusions: The study suggests that CEPs should have a greater impact on coaches if they are relatively lengthy, include follow-up support, and coach educators are aware of coaches’ acculturation and organizational socialization.