Supportive Communities: Conceptualizing Supportive Structures for Coaches’ Learning and Well-Being in Community Youth Soccer

Krister Hertting, Karin Grahn and Stefan Wagnsson
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Krister Hertting: School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, 30118 Halmstad, Sweden
Karin Grahn: Department of Food and Nutrition and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
Stefan Wagnsson: Department of Educational Studies, Karlstad University, 65188 Karlstad, Sweden

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-9

Abstract: Sweden has an extensive culture of community club sports for children and youths, based on voluntary leadership. Being a voluntary coach can be stressful and can affect coaches’ well-being. Since voluntary coaching is closely connected to and conditioned by family life and civil occupation, coaches need support for practical issues as well as for developing their coaching assignment in relation to the constantly changing conditions within sports for children and youths. The aim of this paper was to conceptualize and problematize the supportive structures in everyday activities, in order to promote learning and well-being and to prevent mental health issues. This paper is conceptual and based on a paradigm case. The starting point is communities of practice (CoP) and how CoPs can contribute to the development of supportive structures for coaches in youth sports. In conclusion, a CoP is dependent on negotiation within the coaching team as well as on facilitating factors that can add knowledge, perspectives, and experiences to the CoP. The facilitating factors mean that a CoP has the potential to be health-promoting for both coaches and players. Hence, it is important to create conditions, structures, and support—such as policies, practice-based education, mentorship, and facilitators.

Keywords: coaching; voluntary coaches; health; well-being; community of practice; youth sports; soccer; learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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