Development of expert coaches of figure skating.

Abstract

In depth open-ended interviews were conducted with eight World and/or Olympic figure skating coaches across the three disciplines of singles, pairs and ice dancing. The purpose of the interviews was to investigate the development of expertise in figure skating coaches. It was intended on one hand to reveal their knowledge and procedures within the developmental stages of their careers, and secondly to investigate the role of coaching education and other methods by which they acquired their knowledge. The coaches had on average 23.5 years of experience. The results of the present study identified the following stages: early involvement in sport, transitions into coaching, early coaching career, mature coaching career, expert coaching and future retirement. As athletes, with master coaches and parental support, they were able to achieve high levels of success and learned valuable athletic experiences. All coaches had been fourth or better at national championships, more than half had competed internationally, and half had been world championship and/or Olympic competitors. Their transition into coaching had been made for several reasons. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)