The Canadian sport system is challenged by the lack of representation of female leaders and coaches. This is, in spite of statistics showing that female athletes account for almost half of all participants in sport, a number that is still growing (Sport Canada, 1999). Women have acquired equity in many areas of life and are accepted in leadership roles, however in the area of sport, women have yet to gain the full credibility and professional respect equal to their male counterparts. Previous research indicates that women who pursue a career in coaching face many adversities and struggle to attain a level of leadership where they can achieve their highest potential (Acosta & Carpenter, 2002). The purpose of this research is to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of elite female coaches, using Erikson’s (1950) theory of psychosocial development. In this study, the qualitative method of life history was used to learn about the experiences of female coaches, specifically the process of becoming and being elite coaches. Five elite Canadian coaches were interviewed. The major themes that developed through the analysis of the interviews were: (a) Support, (b) Overcoming Obstacles, (c) Personal Qualities and (d) The Bigger Picture. The study noted the importance of various support systems through one’s lifespan and some of the challenges a female athlete and coach must overcome to become a successful athlete, coach and mother. The study shares insight into the five women’s personal qualities that helped them grow into elite coaches. Finally, the participants described the process by which they came to find a leadership style with which they were comfortable, as coaches and as women.

The Canadian sport system is challenged by the lack of representation of female leaders and coaches. This is, in spite of statistics showing that female athletes account for almost half of all participants in sport, a number that is still growing (Sport Canada, 1999). Women have acquired equity in many areas of life and are accepted in leadership roles, however in the area of sport, women have yet to gain the full credibility and professional respect equal to their male counterparts. Previous research indicates that women who pursue a career in coaching face many adversities and struggle to attain a level of leadership where they can achieve their highest potential (Acosta & Carpenter, 2002). The purpose of this research is to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of elite female coaches, using Erikson’s (1950) theory of psychosocial development. In this study, the qualitative method of life history was used to learn about the experiences of female coaches, specifically the process of becoming and being elite coaches. Five elite Canadian coaches were interviewed. The major themes that developed through the analysis of the interviews were: (a) Support, (b) Overcoming Obstacles, (c) Personal Qualities and (d) The Bigger Picture. The study noted the importance of various support systems through one’s lifespan and some of the challenges a female athlete and coach must overcome to become a successful athlete, coach and mother. The study shares insight into the five women’s personal qualities that helped them grow into elite coaches. Finally, the participants described the process by which they came to find a leadership style with which they were comfortable, as coaches and as women.

Föreliggande studie är en kvantitativ studie där syftet var att undersöka hur olika typer av tränarbeteenden och motivationsklimat påverkar samt predicerar psykologiskt välbefinnande hos ungdomsfotbolsspelare. I studien deltog 95 ungdomsfotbollsspelare, antingen tillhörande en SEF certifierad akademi eller ett ungdomslag vars representationslag tillhör någon av de fyra högsta divisionerna i Sverige. Datainsamlingen genomfördes med hjälp av digitala enkäter som skickades ut till ansvariga i sju olika fotbollsföreningar där deltagarna var i åldrarna mellan 16 och 19 år (M=16.97, SD=2.6). De enkla regressionsanalyserna visade att tränarbeteendet tävlings-/matchstrategier indikerade på störst positiv effekt på psykologiskt välbefinnande och var den typ av tränarbeteende som predicerade mest psykologiskt välbefinnande. Fortsättningsvis indikerar resultatet på en positiv effekt mellan uppgiftsorienterat motivationsklimat och psykologiskt välbefinnande, och en negativ effekt mellan resultatorienterat motivationsklimat. Studiens resultat skulle sannolikt kunna anses vara användbart för att facilitera psykologiskt välbefinnande och i förlängningen utveckling för ungdomsfotbollsspelare genom lämpliga tränarbeteenden och uppgiftorienterat motivationsklimat. / The present study is a quantitative study aimed at examining how different types of coaching behaviors and motivational climates affect and predict the psychological well-being of youth soccer players. The study included 95 youth soccer players, either belonging to a SEF-certified academy or a youth team whose representative team belongs to one of the four highest divisions in Sweden. Data collection was conducted using digital surveys sent to responsible parties in seven different soccer associations where the participants were between 16 and 19 years old (M=16.97, SD=2.6). The simple regression analyses showed that coach behavior of competition/match strategies indicated the greatest positive effect on psychological well-being and was the type of coaching behavior that predicted the most psychological well-being. Furthermore, the results indicate a positive effect between task-oriented motivational climate and psychological well-being, and a negative effect between result-oriented motivational climate. The study's results could likely be considered useful for facilitating psychological well-being and, in turn, development for youth soccer players through appropriate coaching behaviors and task-oriented motivational climate.

Föreliggande studie är en kvantitativ studie där syftet var att undersöka hur olika typer av tränarbeteenden och motivationsklimat påverkar samt predicerar psykologiskt välbefinnande hos ungdomsfotbolsspelare. I studien deltog 95 ungdomsfotbollsspelare, antingen tillhörande en SEF certifierad akademi eller ett ungdomslag vars representationslag tillhör någon av de fyra högsta divisionerna i Sverige. Datainsamlingen genomfördes med hjälp av digitala enkäter som skickades ut till ansvariga i sju olika fotbollsföreningar där deltagarna var i åldrarna mellan 16 och 19 år (M=16.97, SD=2.6). De enkla regressionsanalyserna visade att tränarbeteendet tävlings-/matchstrategier indikerade på störst positiv effekt på psykologiskt välbefinnande och var den typ av tränarbeteende som predicerade mest psykologiskt välbefinnande. Fortsättningsvis indikerar resultatet på en positiv effekt mellan uppgiftsorienterat motivationsklimat och psykologiskt välbefinnande, och en negativ effekt mellan resultatorienterat motivationsklimat. Studiens resultat skulle sannolikt kunna anses vara användbart för att facilitera psykologiskt välbefinnande och i förlängningen utveckling för ungdomsfotbollsspelare genom lämpliga tränarbeteenden och uppgiftorienterat motivationsklimat. / The present study is a quantitative study aimed at examining how different types of coaching behaviors and motivational climates affect and predict the psychological well-being of youth soccer players. The study included 95 youth soccer players, either belonging to a SEF-certified academy or a youth team whose representative team belongs to one of the four highest divisions in Sweden. Data collection was conducted using digital surveys sent to responsible parties in seven different soccer associations where the participants were between 16 and 19 years old (M=16.97, SD=2.6). The simple regression analyses showed that coach behavior of competition/match strategies indicated the greatest positive effect on psychological well-being and was the type of coaching behavior that predicted the most psychological well-being. Furthermore, the results indicate a positive effect between task-oriented motivational climate and psychological well-being, and a negative effect between result-oriented motivational climate. The study's results could likely be considered useful for facilitating psychological well-being and, in turn, development for youth soccer players through appropriate coaching behaviors and task-oriented motivational climate.

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