Research
The ICCE Research Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the ICCE Board with respect to coaching research interests.
The ICCE Research Committee consists of eight (8) voting members, plus the editor of the International Sport Coaching Journal (voting) and the ICCE designated representative (non-voting). These are:
Bettina Callary (Canada): Editor of the International Sport Coaching Journal
Kristen Dieffenbach (USA): Member
Heather Eyton-Morris (South Africa): Member
Larissa Galatti (Brazil): Member
Koon-Teck Koh (Singapore): Member
Sergio Lara-Bercial (UK): ICCE designated representative
Alliance Kubayi (South Africa): Member
Christine Nash (Scotland): Chair
Donna O’Connor (Australia): Member
Don Vinson (England): Member
Research Committee terms of reference is available here
Central to the ICCE’s approach is an evidence informed approach to coaching, coach development, and coaching systems, underpinned by high quality original and applied research. The Research Committee aims to encourage and promote evidence based coaching related research by linking active researchers around the world. Primarily, these researchers will be based in universities, but the Research Committee wants to nurture links between applied researchers and practitioners in the field of sport coaching.
The ICCE Global Coach Conference (GCC) provides an opportunity for researchers across the globe to share their work, and to inform policy and practice. The GCC is held every two years with some sessions specifically designed for researchers to engage as a group and share new developments and shape future research agendas.
The last GCC in Lisbon (2021) was the first conference where abstracts were published by the International Sport Coaching Journal. We hope to continue and extend this practice for Singapore 2023.
ICCE RESEARCH GROUP REFLECTIONS ON CURRENT CONCEPTUALISATIONS OF SPORT COACHING AND FUTURE RESEARCH
Background
- During the last 25 years sport coaching has evolved as an academic subject with research in the area informed by various disciplines, such as physiology, psychology, sociology, pedagogy, alongside knowledge of sports themselves (Campbell et al., 2022; North et al., 2021). This has led to the emergence of different research positions and interpretations of sport coaching.
- Despite the emergence and establishment of sport coaching research as an academic discipline and profession its status within broader sporting and academic agendas, and scientific credibility continues to be questioned, challenged or ignored (Hughes, 2022; Jones, 2019; North et al., 2021;). Alongside this, differing perspectives resulting from this growth appear to divide sport coaching researchers.
- There is, however, some consensus among the research community that coaching is primarily concerned with athlete and team development (e.g. Abraham & Collins, 2011; Bush et al., 2013; Garratt, 2013; North, 2013; Jones, 2019).
Nurturing links between applied researchers and practitioners
- Within sport coaching’s continued growth as a discipline of study, it is suggested that the dichotomy of academic and practitioner (or separation of theory and practice) needs to be challenged.
- This approach has the potential to highlight the importance and relevance of research (and theory) to coaches, coach educators, academics and national governing bodies (or other relevant employers).
- To educate and develop coaches, educators and academics as “practical theorists” (Cassidy et al., 2016), content needs to be innovative, relevant and accessible, while allowing for integration into practice (Corsby et al., 2021).
- Therefore, it’s crucial to undertake and present research that considers the reality of a coach’s everyday work, is practical to coaches and subsequently influences coach educators and policy makers etc (Jones, 2019).
Future Coaching Research
- For sport coaching to continue its development as a scientific field it requires research to ensure its relevance and legitimacy. This is crucial for enhancing sport coaching’s status as an academic discipline and its scientific credibility (Barker-Ruchti & Purdy, 2022; Hughes, 2022). Our field is conceding authority to other sport or social sciences in terms of development and compromising its legitimacy through inter-disciplinary interests.
- o For example, the book An Introduction to Sports Coaching: Connecting Theory to Practice (2013) has specific chapters on Psychology for Coaches, History for Coaches, Biomechanics for Coaches. Performance Analysis for Coaches etc
- Although various disciplines (as highlighted above) will continue to inform research in the area, we believe that extending beyond the boundaries of other disciplines would enhance coaching as a field of inquiry.
- Sports coaching should be interpreted from within its own frame of reference to further locate it as a discipline of study. This would involve evaluating and building on previous research alongside developing a critical and original knowledge on issues related to sports coaching theory and practice (Jones, 2019).
ICCE & aim of the Research Committee
- Central to the ICCE’s approach is an evidence-informed approach to coaching, coach development, and coaching systems, underpinned by high quality original and applied research (from ICCE website).
- An important aim of the RC of ICCE is to develop an internationally collaborative research community to promote sharing of knowledge and understanding to develop research capability that, in turn, will inform both policy and practice in advancing the professionalization of sports coaching and the sporting experience for all actors (North et al., 2021).
- As a research committee we recognise that coaching is constantly evolving and that research will provide new insights into all aspects that relate to sports coaching.
The ICCE Research Committee recently launched a series of webinars in the lead up to the 15th ICCE Global Coach Conference in Athens Greece.
The second webinar in the series will focus on ‘Para-Coaching’ on Wednesday 25th June 2025 at 2pm UK time. This webinar is designed to be of interest to both researchers and practitioners and will be interactive in nature.
Outstanding Coaching Article Award
As a result of the adjudication process for the 2nd ISCJ Outstanding Coaching Article Award undertaken by a sub-committee of the ICCE Research Committee, chaired by Professor Don Vinson, the winner of the 2025 Outstanding Article Award went to:
McCarthy, Liam, and Claire-Marie Roberts. 2024. “A Project-Led Framework for Coach Development in English Men’s Professional Football: A Premier League Case Study.” International Sport Coaching Journal 11 (3):446–456. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2023-0015.
This ‘Practical Advances’ article was selected following thorough review of all of the published papers spanning Volumes 10 and 11 of the International Sport Coaching Journal. This article highlights an original, creative, and evidence-informed coach education and development programme. It is an outstanding example of how a rigorously constructed intervention can have a profound impact in applied settings. In great detail, the article explains the learning activities of coaches as they travelled through a long-term coach development programme. This article makes a significant contribution to the scholarship of sport coaching with the potential for other learning facilitators to reflect on their own approaches to designing development programmes for coaches.
The Early Career Professionals (ECP) is a Special Interest Group (SIG) created by and for early career researchers and practitioners of all ages. This SIG aims to provide early career professionals with a learning and networking space where they can gain experience in various topics relating to coaching research and practice, showcase work to an engaged audience of peers and experts, and connect with like-minded professionals.
The ECP’s aims are in line with the four objectives identified in North et al. (2021): International Sport Coaching Journal (ISCJ) research committee:
- In consultation with the ICCE Research committee and Board, we aim to advise on ICCE related programmes and research engagement for inclusion and participation of early career professionals.
- Create opportunities for ECPs to support research, applied agendas, and initiatives within ICCE events (e.g., the Global Coach Conference).
- Support the International Sport Coaching Journal.
- Connect early career coaching students, researchers, and practitioners as well as coaching research communities.
In preparation for ICCE Global Coaching Conference 2025, the ECP will be providing a unique opportunity for group members. We will be offering an opportunity for ECP group members to receive peer revision with personalized feedback designed to help you refine and strengthen your abstract submission — before the official GCC peer-review deadline! If you are interested, please get in touch with us via email at icce.earlycareer@gmail.com for more information on the Early Career Professionals.
If you’re interested in being part of the ECP special interest group, sign up here or scan the QR code https://forms.gle/2FpYi1FUc5Eg95CJ8