Volunteer Rugby Coaches in Regional Queensland: the significance of lived experience on their coaching philosophies, practices and overall development

Volunteer Rugby Coaches in Regional Queensland: the significance of lived experience on their coaching philosophies, practices and overall development

The purpose of this research was to explore the complex role of volunteer rugby union coaches working in regional Queensland communities. Organised sport is an important contributor to regional communities with the volunteer coach having a vital role in contributing to the overall connectedness and health of these areas.

The research focused on five volunteer rugby union coaches with significant experience of living and coaching in regional Queensland and analysed how their lived experience informs their coaching philosophy, practice, and professional development. This associated exploration of their values, contexts, needs, and motivations offered valuable insights into how their role can be further supported and strengthened to improve outcomes for their regional communities, their sport's governing bodies, coach educators, and the coaches themselves.

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was the methodological approach employed for this study. Its idiographic focus enabled the identification and subsequent analysis of the complexity of the coaching roles adopted by the participants. The interpretative analysis revealed five overarching superordinate themes: the formative development of personal qualities conducive to coaching, the significance of sport, the uniqueness of rugby, effective coaching pedagogy, and the challenges and rewards of coaching regional rugby.

This research proposes a number of recommendations for consideration by rugby's governing bodies including increased user-friendly or user-specified educational opportunities for volunteers; more locally-based regional development personnel with a particular focus on school contexts; and greater education and awareness regarding volunteer coaches' well-being. Underpinning these recommendations is an emphasis on the importance of seeking out and listening to the perspectives of volunteer coaches in regional areas.

File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.