BSCA Commissions Independent Research Into Health & Well-Being of UK Swimming Coaches
The British Swimming Coaches Association has commissioned independent research from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) into the “Health & Well-Being of Swimming Coaches in Britain” at a time when the profession they represent has felt under attack from governance models that have been called out for failures in other independent reports.
The backdrop to the research includes coaches being suspended indefinitely without access to due and professional, independent process and whole programs being stripped of affiliation to the serious detriment of innocent athletes, parents and coaches. Some of those scenarios, among others, have been called out in two key independent reports in a process of reform still in its infancy in England.
The BSCA has issued an invitation for all coaches over 18 to take part in the survey and research underway.
The Coaches Representative Body Statement
The negative media coverage of the sport of swimming in recent years has focussed upon terms which have pointed fingers at many parts of its membership and organisation, but there has been clear focus upon how swimming coaches have allegedly operated.
The British Swimming Coaches Association (BSCA) has been a strong advocate for the activity & profession for many decades and given current challenges, the membership have raised awareness of the difficulties and stresses that they as swimming coaches, are facing today. The BSCA have therefore commissioned independent research from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) into the “Health & Well-Being of Swimming Coaches in Britain”.
This project aims to examine the health and well-being of swimming coaches by identifying work-place stressors, vulnerability to stress-related health problems and specific challenges swimming coaches face today. This research project is a vital starting point in creating change to the health and well-being of swimming coaches. It is the first study of its kind and will be looked at closely by others elsewhere in the UK and precedes similar projects being prepared in the US and beyond.
This project is being conducted by Dr Ella McLoughlin (Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology), Dr Julie Johnston (Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology), and Dr Laura Healy (Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology) at Nottingham Trent University.
Glenn Smith, BSCA Chair said of the project: “The BSCA Board have become concerned by the increasing number of reports we have been receiving from members and of the difficulties they have been experiencing in simply trying to carry out the role that they have been trained to do.”
Brian McGuinness, BSCA Executive Director states: “The outcomes from this research will provide us with the information that will help us shape the training & support coaches need in the current environment”.
Any practicing swimming coach over the age of 18, can participate.
Participation consists of completing an online questionnaire which will provide a detailed account of stressors that coaches have experienced within the coaching environment, levels of health and well-being, and burnout. It should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete. All data will remain confidential and will only be accessible to the research team involved.
Further details & online questionnaire.
Any participants with questions should contact ella.mcloughlin@ntu.ac.uk.