Professionalisation in Sports Coaching

This report explores notions of ‘profession’, ‘professionalism’, ‘professional practice’ and ‘professionalisation’, to establish the case for, and conditions necessary to achieve, the professionalisation of coaching in the UK

Aims & Objectives

• Critically review all relevant literature informing definitions and conceptualisations of 'profession', 'professional practice' and 'professionalisation'
• Identify the 'traits/characteristics' of professionalisation in relation to coaching in a UK context
• Assess the 'current state of play' in relation to professionalisation in the UK, including identification of key enablers and barriers, and propose a way forward for establishing a 'coaching profession'

Methods

• Literature / document review

Key Findings

• Although defining a profession by its traits and characteristics has a number of disadvantages, most professional occupations have:
  • professional education
  • a distinct and specialised body of knowledge
  • career structures and pathways
  • explicit ethical and value systems
  • an independent professional membership body
  • professional practice
  • clarity and definition with regard to their role and remit.
• The development of the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate (UKCC) has gone some way to establishing a base for these aspects to develop.

Final Report