The educational journey of paddlesport coaches

Formal coach education programmes, driven by the national governing bodies of individual sports, have for many years been regarded as essential in the development of competent, qualified coaches. However, more recent opinion suggests that such coach education is actually ‘‘low impact’’ in comparison to the hours individual aspirant coach’s spend coaching, being coached or participating (Rossi & Cassidy, 1999: Learning and teaching in physical education. London: Falmer). It appears the literature is, in part, implying that experiential learning has greater significance over formal education programmes. The aim of this study was to investigate the educational journey of a sample of paddlesport coaches by addressing why coaches chose to enter formal coach education programmes.