TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhancing the self-esteem of youth swimmers through coach training
T2 - Gender and age effects
AU - Douglas Coatsworth, J.
AU - Conroy, David E.
PY - 2006/3/1
Y1 - 2006/3/1
N2 - Objectives: Prior research has indicated that improving the behavior of youth sport coaches can enhance the self-esteem of boys age 12-14, particularly for those who begin the season with low self-esteem [Smoll, F. L., Smith, R. E., Barnett, N. P., & Everett, J. J. (1993). Enhancement of children's self-esteem through social support training for youth sport coaches. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 602-610]. The purpose of the present study was to extend the literature by testing the efficacy of a psychosocial coach training intervention for enhancing the self-esteem of male and female swimmers aged 7-18 years. Methods: Youth (N=135) and coaches (N=7) participated in a randomized efficacy trial comparing the effects of a psychosocial coach training intervention to an injury prevention intervention on changes in youth self-esteem over the course of a 7-week swim season. Three waves of data were collected: Beginning-of-season (pre-intervention), mid-season, and end-of-season. Results: Longitudinal growth modeling indicated significant variability in initial levels of self-esteem at beginning-of-season, but no significant mean level changes over time. Effects of the experimental intervention were moderated by age, initial level of self-esteem, and gender. Effects of psychosocial coach training were strongest for younger participants, and for girls who started the season with low levels of self-esteem. Conclusions: Training coaches in psychosocial and behavioral principles is an effective way to alter coach behavior and enhance the athlete-coach relational context. Psychosocial coach training is also associated with gains in self-esteem for some, but not all, athletes and may be most important for youth who need it most. Implications for coach training programs are discussed.
AB - Objectives: Prior research has indicated that improving the behavior of youth sport coaches can enhance the self-esteem of boys age 12-14, particularly for those who begin the season with low self-esteem [Smoll, F. L., Smith, R. E., Barnett, N. P., & Everett, J. J. (1993). Enhancement of children's self-esteem through social support training for youth sport coaches. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 602-610]. The purpose of the present study was to extend the literature by testing the efficacy of a psychosocial coach training intervention for enhancing the self-esteem of male and female swimmers aged 7-18 years. Methods: Youth (N=135) and coaches (N=7) participated in a randomized efficacy trial comparing the effects of a psychosocial coach training intervention to an injury prevention intervention on changes in youth self-esteem over the course of a 7-week swim season. Three waves of data were collected: Beginning-of-season (pre-intervention), mid-season, and end-of-season. Results: Longitudinal growth modeling indicated significant variability in initial levels of self-esteem at beginning-of-season, but no significant mean level changes over time. Effects of the experimental intervention were moderated by age, initial level of self-esteem, and gender. Effects of psychosocial coach training were strongest for younger participants, and for girls who started the season with low levels of self-esteem. Conclusions: Training coaches in psychosocial and behavioral principles is an effective way to alter coach behavior and enhance the athlete-coach relational context. Psychosocial coach training is also associated with gains in self-esteem for some, but not all, athletes and may be most important for youth who need it most. Implications for coach training programs are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=30844460776&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=30844460776&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychsport.2005.08.005
DO - 10.1016/j.psychsport.2005.08.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:30844460776
SN - 1469-0292
VL - 7
SP - 173
EP - 192
JO - Psychology of Sport and Exercise
JF - Psychology of Sport and Exercise
IS - 2
ER -