APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2021 , Vol . 7
Maximising the potential of people in sport and life : lessons from Benson Community Project
Dr Kathryn Leflay and Rus Smith
University of Wolverhampton
Abstract This article explores how one particular community sport project in the West Midlands uses a coaching for development approach to maximise the potential of people in sport and in life . It has frequently been suggested that it shouldn ’ t be assumed that positive development will simply occur , rather , key decisions need to be made about the best way to shape sports projects to maximise the chance that they will result in successful outcomes . This article examines how one club ‘ coaches for development ’, and in doing so , supports what Sport England refer to as individual development . An independent evaluation of the Benson Community Project was carried out by the
University of Wolverhampton in 2019 . Observations of sessions were carried out over a five-week period . Observations were followed up by semistructured interviews with six volunteer coaching staff to capture in depth accounts about the project . Four themes emerged from the analysis of the observations and interviews . These were safe space , freestyling , relationship strategy and alternative pathways .
Key Words Coaching , Individual Development , Voluntary Sector , Positive Outcomes
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