The aim of this study was to examine formalised mentoring as a learning strategy for
volunteer sports coaches. Despite the popular use of mentoring as a learning and support
strategy across many professional domains, there has been comparatively little research
on structured mentoring programmes in sports coaching, and there is a distinct lack of
empirical evidence to support claims for its efficacy in supporting and enhancing coach
professional learning Moreover, despite the significantly high numbers of voluntary
coaches that support sports coaching in the UK, there is a lack of research that addresses
the professional needs of this population
data are reported from a 12 month longitudinal study of 7 coach mentors and 18 mentees
that were organized into formal mentor partnerships in one region of the UK Methods
included semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and focus groups with all
participants Data analysis was undertaken usmg a constructivist revision of the
Grounded Theory Method (Charmaz, 2006), recognizing that themes and categories are
constructed from data and are mutually negotiated 'Core' conceptual categories were
identified, depicting actions that embody mentoring processes.... A Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.