The role of parasport coaches in shaping the quality of athletes’ sport experiences 

Original report written by: Allan, V., Evans, B.E., Côté, J. & Latimer-Cheung, A.E. (n.d).

Summary

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of athletes with physical disabilities concerning how coaches shaped the quality of their sport experiences throughout their athletic development. In other words, parasport athletes’ described the role that coaches played in facilitating sport experiences that were valued and meaningful within their lives.

Overall, athletes felt that coaches played a crucial role in shaping their sport experiences, both positively and negatively. Furthermore, what athletes’ wanted from their coaches in order to shape quality sport experiences often differed depending on the developmental stage of the athlete.

Taking this work as a whole, it may be vital to develop coaches’ interpersonal skills with the aim of promoting quality experiences in parasport, and this research specifically identifies skills that are relevant at different points in an athlete’s trajectory. 

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