Investigating Coach-Athlete Relationships Within a Women's Masters Sport Team

Abstract

Coach-athlete (C-A) dyadic relationships are said to be interdependent in nature, and dependent upon mutual closeness, commitment, and complementarity (Jowett, 2007). Masters coaches (MC), or coaches of Masters athletes (MAs; 35+ years-old), are considered contributors to adult sportspersons’ experiences through relational and social connections (Callary, Rathwell, & Young, 2017). There has yet to be a study however, that explicitly attempts to understand the interdependent relationships that exist within a Masters team, nor about the specific experiences of women in coached Masters sport. This purposes of this thesis was thus twofold: to explore what C-A relationships were like within a Masters team sport, in terms of interdependence that existed within C-A dyads, amongst athletes, and throughout the team as a whole, and further, to illustrate the lived experiences of a MC and her team of MA women. The women’s team included 20 Masters synchronized skaters (MSks; ages 18-55), eleven of whom, plus the MC were interviewed multiple times throughout their season. Data collection was complemented by participant observation and immersion into the team environment. Data were analyzed with interpretative phenomenological analysis (Article 1), as well as thematic analysis (Article 2). Article 1 in this thesis examined the former purpose, and introduced the Masters Team Sport Model of Interdependence which conceptualizes interdependence in a Masters team. Article 2 investigated the latter purpose, and created meaningful narrative depictions of the participants’ experiences. Together, the results suggest that interdependence within a Masters team exists as more than a collection of dyads, and instead functions as a mutually influential network of relationships. Further, the results point to the importance of a MC’s involvement in the team, and efforts to building relationship with and amongst MAs to ultimately create a climate of empowerment within the team, resulting in positive relational outcomes and sport experiences