Golf Coaches Use Tacit Knowledge to Improve Transfer Performance: Understanding the Mediating Role of Transfer Capacity in Golf Coaching

Abstract

Background. Golf is relatively new in China, and overall playing skills are low. Although golf coaches are vital in improving golf skills, their teaching skills are underdeveloped. Objectives. This study aims to explore how the coach’s tacit knowledge affects the transfer performance by exploring the factors that affect the teaching ability of Chinese golf coaches. It aims to improve the teaching efficiency of coaches in physical education and give reference to other sports in teaching. Methods. Participants (N=339) included golf coaches from Shenzhen (China) and members of an online golf instructor group. Results. (1) The possession of tacit knowledge allows coaches better to transmit that information, both amount and effectiveness. (2) Knowledge transferability improved knowledge transfer performance, mediating the relationship between tacit knowledge and knowledge transfer. (3) Skilled tacit knowledge had more influence on transfer capacity than cognitive tacit knowledge. (4) Absorptive capacity positively regulates transferability and knowledge transfer performance. Conclusion. The findings can contribute to developing a theoretical understanding of golf coaching that can improve practice in China, where golf coaching is still at an early stage of development.