Understanding coach development opportunities in disability sport: A scoping review

Abstract

A scoping review was conducted of the research over the last two and half decades on coach development opportunities (CDOs) for coaches in disability sport. Two research questions focussed the review: (a) What can be learned about the planning, delivery, or impact of disability sport-specific CDOs? And (b) What barriers and facilitators do coaches in disability sport encounter when accessing CDOs? The three-phase process of screening yielded 32 records out of the initial 1406 records found. These records explicitly related to learning activities or to pathways, preferences, perceptions, or experiences as they relate to learning and development of coaching within para/disability/adaptive sport, or as coaches with a disability; and these criteria across all sport settings, although 15 records were based in elite contexts. Twenty-six records were qualitative, five quantitative, and one mixed methods. Thirteen were conducted in Canada, 9 in the UK, and 6 in the USA. Eight records (6 UK, 2 USA, and 0 from Canada) corresponded to RQ1 about specific approaches to, and coaches’ opinions of CDOs. All records offered some insights into RQ2. In sum: (a) Research specific to assessing or evaluating specific disability sport CDOs is non-existent in Canada, (b) research about pathways for coaches with a disability is almost non-existent, (c) a wide range of CDOs of different lengths, content, and pedagogical approaches is optimal to meet the needs of two important groups of learners. First, for those already coaching disability, provide sport-specific, targeted CDOs; and second, for potential coaches, broader but comprehensive CDOs