Applied Coaching Research Journal Volume 1 | Page 6

APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2018, Vol. 1
So the Journal begins…
On behalf of the editorial team, it gives me great
pleasure to introduce the inaugural issue of the
UK Coaching Applied Coaching Research Journal –
Transforming Lives through Coaching. The primary
aim of this publication is to present research that
demonstrates the impact of coaching on individuals,
communities and society, and to share best practice
and lessons learnt from coaching interventions.
The sport and physical activity sector in the
United Kingdom is undergoing substantial and
rapid change. Government policy focuses on
increasing participation in sport and physical
activity, supporting more people to get active and
stay active. Sport and physical activity can change
lives and the benefits of participation are well
recognised. Through sport and physical activity,
participants become more active, fitter, healthier
and more confident. They develop skills that will
not only help them to improve in their sport or
activity, but also key life skills, such as teamwork,
commitment and problem solving. Government
policy links the benefits of sport and physical
activity to five clear outcomes: physical well-
being; mental well-being; individual development;
social and community development; and economic
development. For the first time, government-funded
agencies are expected to demonstrate how they will
deliver against some or all of these five outcomes.
At the same time, a new, broader definition of
coaching has been adopted across the sector, which
6
includes anyone who supports other people to get
and stay active across the whole sport and physical
activity sector. It recognises that participants
receive coaching in a range of different settings
and that coaches play a number of different roles.
Over three million people dedicate 200 million
hours each year to help others achieve their sport
and physical activity goals, from coaches in sports
clubs, PE teachers in schools, activators and helpers
in local communities, and exercise and fitness
professionals in leisure centres and health clubs. All
play a vital role in supporting an active nation.
UK Coaching recognises that sport and physical
activity coaches play a significant role in realising
the government outcomes through helping
people get active and retaining them in activity.
Previous UK Coaching research has shown that
participants who receive coaching have “stickier”
sport and physical habits than those not in
receipt of coaching: they are more likely to do
more sport and physical activity; have increased
their activity levels since the previous year; and
would like to do more sport or physical activity
in the future. Furthermore, those in receipt of
coaching are much more likely to rate their
physical or mental health as excellent or good,
compared to those not in receipt of coaching.
This journal has been developed to provide an
evidence base to support others working in the
sector. It attempts to show how coaching can