Experiences of Student Coaches in Brazilians University Teams: a possibility for the coach education process

Abstract

We aimed to explore the experiences of student coaches as coaching staff members in university teams. In consideration of exploring the experiences of student coaches as coaching staff members in university teams, we used an intrinsic case study to comprehend the specific conditions of five different students’ experiences. In this intrinsic case study, a total of ten interviews were conducted with student coaches (two female; three male) characterizing a variety of sports (soccer, volleyball, track and field, futsal, and handball). Participant ages ranged from 19 to 25 years. Interviews lasted from 50 min to 60 min and were transcribed verbatim. Inductive analyses of the transcripts revealed meaning units that were further grouped into general themes and subthemes. Findings showed that the experiences of student coaches as coaching staff members are represented by a gradual involvement, opportunities to plan and conduct training, people management, coaching adaptability and self-awareness, and the importance of constant supervisor support.