Thesis (A.B., Honors in Psychology)--Harvard University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-56).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Physical Education, Health, and Sport Studies, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-68).

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Widener University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-102). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Widener University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-102).

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of West Florida, 2006. / Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 100 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 390-395). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Only a small number of studies dealing with burnout among coaches have been published, and none of these have dealt with burnout among elite soccer coaches in a European context. This thesis – investigating both the burnout and recovery process – includes a longitudinal design spanning ten years. Out of 53 head coaches, from elite soccer teams in Sweden, 47 participated in study 1. Results showed that burnout scores assessed by Maslachs Burnout Inventory (MBI) were generally low, but coaches in women’s premier league showed significantly higher levels of emotional exhaustion than coaches in men’s soccer teams. A sub-sample of these 47 coaches was interviewed for study 2, namely those 8 reporting the highest MBI scores. Characteristics of the elite coach professions personality traits and the allover life situation of the coach were identified as risk factors for developing burnout, as well as some retention factors, risking to create detention effects which might worsen the stress levels of the coach. In study 3 and 4, the burnout and recovery processes were examined, respectively. On the basis of descriptions from the coaches, three separate phases are discerned from the burnout process: a phase of restlessness and annoyance, a fatigue phase and finally a phase of exhaustion and burnout, while it is possible to make out four phases in the recovery process: a wake-up process, a phase removing one-self, a phase of reflection and evaluation, and finally a phase of new-orienting one-self. Study 5 revealed that both energy cost reducing strategies and energy boosting activities, were used by the coaches to prevent burnout. Study 6 showed that lack of sufficient recovery periods inhibited a lowering of the burnout levels, but also that lack of adequate coping strategies slowed the recovery process and also that coaches who have experienced burnout have an impaired professional efficiency. Finally, the focus in study 7 was on longterm consequences of burning out. Increased fatigue, diseases, cognitive impairment and a lower stress tolerance were examples of negative consequences, whereas an improved ability to identify stress causes and an enhanced awareness about one’s stress reactions, as well as to reflect and prioritize health, were examples of positive and favourable consequences. It is also urgent that elite clubs strive to create a good psycho-social work environment, which will function as a buffer against stress.

M.Ed. (Didactics Training) / Limited data regarding the pedagogic didactic responsibilities of the sport mentor could be obtained. Consequently very few guidelines do exist in this regard. Research therefore indicates to a large extent what responsibilities regarding the coaching of sports are. The framework of this research includes the pedagogic (educational) and didactic perspectives as well as the guidelines concerning the task of the sport mentor. A prerequisite for effective communication between the sport mentor and the players (adult to be) is the creation of a suitable learning situation. The relevant components for the coaching of sports are: The young sportsman (adult-to-be) /child; an effective relationship; goals; content; sequence and The sport mentor. This research highlights the complexity of coaching and concludes that coaches (sport mentors) who are well versed in didactic pedagogic principles should be able to fulfil this responsibility successfully.

Sport is deemed by many researchers and practitioners as a favourable context to foster positive youth development (PYD), including the acquisition of life skills (Petitpas et al., 2005). However, researchers have cautioned for vigilance before assuming with assurance that sport leads to positive developmental outcomes (Coakley, 2011). Consequently, it is important to understand how sport leaders can facilitate the development and transfer of life skills. In the context of high school sport in Canada, teacher-coaches are considered essential adults in the delivery of school sport programs. Using Pierce et al.’s (2017) life skills transfer model, the present thesis explored the contextual and psychological factors influencing the development and transfer of life skills. An intervention was designed, using action research principles, with two high school teacher-coaches. Data were collected via teacher-coach pre- and post-intervention interviews, as well as student-athlete post-intervention interviews (i.e., five student-athletes per teacher-coach). Further, data were gathered through observation, and audio recording of each life skill implementation, as well as a researcher reflective journal. The results indicated that teacher-coaches played an important role in influencing contextual and psychological factors, in both the learning and the transfer context, which shaped student-athletes’ life skills development and transfer. The study has practical implications for coach education programs, suggesting the benefits of on the ground support to provide coaches and teacher-coaches with the necessary tools to promote PYD.