“Why should I go there?”: The role of tertiary degrees
15th ICCE Global Coach Conference, Athens, Greece, 20 - 23 November 2025, vol.12, pp.5-6, (Summary Text)
- Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
- Volume: 12
- City: Athens
- Country: Greece
- Page Numbers: pp.5-6
- Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Questions remain related to the effectiveness of formal coach education programs, tertiary degrees in particular; however, they are recognised as a being potentially important for coach learning (Mallett & Lara-Bercial, 2024). In this study, we aimed to understand the role of Turkish tertiary coaching education degrees for coach learning. We conducted 21 semi-structured interviews (with 19 scholars lecturing in coaching education programs and 2 mentors responsible for practicum) and three focus group interviews (with 18 pre-service coaches [PSCs] in their last year). Through inductive reflexive thematic analysis, four overarching themes were constructed: (i) individual characteristics of PSCs, (ii) teaching and learning domain, (iii) characteristics of the curriculum, and (iv) institutional structure and system. The first theme encapsulates shared concerns regarding PSCs’ academic and athletic competencies, and their interest in learning and coaching profession. The second theme concerns content construction, teaching methods, content knowledge levels of scholars, and the perceptions regarding learning outcomes and environments. The third theme explains the multidisciplinary and theoretical aspects of the programs which vary throughout the country. Several concerns were also raised regarding practice courses, course selection criteria, and perceived importance of several courses. The last theme explains the current status of tertiary coach education and the sporting system in Türkiye. It explains that the quality of education is shaped by several factors such as institutional structures, value attributed to coaching profession, student selection criteria, and certification. Overall, the findings have implications for policymakers and institutions delivering coach education degrees.