The TACL model: A framework for safeguarding children with a disability in sport

This study represents the first investigation of how children with a disability can be safeguarded in Rugby Union. In study 1, a questionnaire containing quantitative questions was completed by 389 safeguarding volunteers regarding their experiences of working with a child with a disability in their role. Descriptive statistics revealed that 76% of this sample had worked with a child with a disability in Rugby Union and that 28% continue to do so on a weekly basis. In study 2, a qualitative survey was completed by 329 safeguarding volunteers and interviews were conducted with a geographically representative sample of 14 Safeguarding Officers. This study focused on developing a model of promising practice with respect to safeguarding children with a disability in Rugby Union. Based on an inductive thematic analysis of the qualitative survey and interview data, the TACL model was developed: Trigger (creating a system that sensitively identifies children with a disability), Action Plan (creating an individualized approach such that the child is effectively included and protected), Communicate (ensuring that all key stakeholders are informed about the plan) and Learn (ensuring that cases of good practice are identified and disseminated). The name TACL (pronounced tackle) was chosen to promote proactive strategies and to provide a label relevant to the language of Rugby Union. These strategies are proposed as the basis for the safeguarding of children with a disability

An overview of the sport-related impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the lives of children around the world in a variety of domains. A total of 188 countries have closed their schools in response to the pandemic which is estimated to have resulted in over 1.5 billion children missing a significant period of education (United Nations 2020a). Further, it is estimated that an additional 42-66 million children will be in extreme poverty as a result of the pandemic (United Nations 2020a). This paper focuses on the potential impacts of COVID-19 on children associated with sport. It was compiled based on the input of 37 experts and practitioners in the fields of child rights, protection, and safeguarding in sport. In addition to facilitating an exchange of information on the topic, it brings together observations and concerns for the consideration of decision makers and others with influence over policies, resource allocations and programming related to children and sport as the world builds back from the pandemic. This includes those in sports organisations, national and local governments, inter-governmental entities, international agencies, donor agencies, civil society organisations and community based organisations.The key impacts are discussed in four main areas: (1) on-going sport, (2) the absence of sport, (3) children in vulnerable and special situations, and (4) future impacts and concerns. The paper further considers perspectives of children, opportunities, and provides a call for action. It is important to emphasise that empirical evidence regarding potential on-going and future impacts is limited and that further investigation and research is required on a range of topics addressed in this paper.</div

Introducing project CARE: A census of athlete rights experiences

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Investigating the moderating effects of social wellbeing on the relationship between brand identity and fan loyalty amongst soccer fans in America

This study builds on Funk and James (2001) and Bauer et al.'s (2008) attempts at modeling the relationship between brand identity and fan loyalty by examining the relationship in the context of fans of professional soccer in the United States. Social wellbeing is introduced into the model, answering the question "What are the moderating effects of social wellbeing on the relationship between brand identity and fan loyalty amongst fans of MLS?". A multiple regression analysis was done to verify the conceptual pathway delineated by Bauer et al. The results showed that the model accounted for 40.6% of the variance (R2 = .406) and the model encompassing both non-product and product related attributes did significantly predict fan loyalty, F (2,26) = 9.341, p = .000. Additionally, non-product related attributes contributed significantly to the modelB (B = .034, p = .475) while product attributes did not. Implications of the results are discussed

Evaluating the impacts of working towards the International Safeguards for Children in Sport

In this paper, the authors evaluate a global strategy to safeguard children against abuse in sport. The experiences of people within 32 of the organisations who were working towards the International Safeguards for Children in Sport were captured over a two-year study. At the organisational level, self-audits demonstrated that progress was made during the project by deliverers (who worked directly with children) from having 45% to 64% of the Safeguards fully in place. Governors (who governed other organisations which worked directly with children) improved on the same figure from 25% to 53%. Progress was also identified using the concept of Activation States through in-depth interviews at the start and end of the project. Positive changes were found at the personal level with respect to people’s feelings, knowledge and behaviours related to safeguarding as well as how safeguarding is discussed in the organisation. Group discussions also revealed changes with respect to how children, coaches, parents and the broader community were behaving with respect to safeguarding. An increase in the number of disclosures was also identified as an important impact of the project. The International Safeguards for Children in Sport are now endorsed by 125 organisations who work with a total of over 35 million children. The implications of these findings are discussed along with the future directions of work in this area

The perceived benefits of community-based group exercise sessions for survivors of stroke

Background/Aims Post-stroke physical disability, cognitive impairment and emotional trauma can adversely affect the wellbeing of people who have survived stroke. Active participation in group exercise programmes has been advocated as an intervention to potentially enhance wellbeing. This study adopted a qualitative approach to explore the experiences of survivors of stroke who were participating in ongoing community-based group exercise sessions and their impact on subjective wellbeing. Methods Interviews were conducted with 12 participants from four community-based group exercise sessions. Of these, 6 were survivors of stroke (44-60 years) and the remaining 6 participants comprised caregivers, group coordinators and/or instructors, who were closely involved with sessions attended by the stroke survivors. Results Thematic analysis revealed that participation in community-based group exercise sessions offered survivors opportunities for building confidence; enhancing motivation; improving physical ability of affected limbs; enhancing interpersonal relationships; and providing support and knowledge. Participants all agreed that these physical and psychosocial benefits contributed to improved wellbeing and this supported previous research on the benefits of group work. Conclusions Participants explained how community-based group exercise sessions had facilitated their recovery journey and hence it is recommended that such programmes are made available, accessible and affordable to survivors of stroke

Tracking progress towards the International Safeguards for Children in Sport

In 2018, a review was conducted to explore sporting organisations’ use of global safeguarding policies. Due to an increase in the number of organisations now adopting these policies, it is thought that an up-to-date review should be conducted to reinstate what is known. As such, this study aims to assess the current state of sporting organisations on the adoption and implementation of the International Safeguards for Children in Sport. Global organisations were contacted to take part in an online questionnaire which explored their use of the International Safeguards for Children in Sport and adopted a novel use for the activation states theory. Results indicated an international, multi-sector use of the International Safeguards as well as supported the relevancy of these Safeguards. There was some stabilisation in activation states since the last review whilst others have progressed from reactive to active. Similarly, thematic analysis highlighted multiple key indicators important in creating a broader impact through safeguarding, such as an increase in disclosures. Furthermore, the results appear to support the newly developed Safeguarding Culture in Sport model. Overall, this research appears to demonstrate an improvement in organisations’ engagement with safeguarding but also highlights areas where this can be further improved

Managing challenging situations in the coach–athlete dyad: introducing the Grey Zone Model from the coach perspective

Challenging situations and interactions are necessary and unavoidable in sport. From deselection to injury, burnout, and mental health issues, coaches and athletes will face challenging situations throughout their sporting career. The aims of this research study were to (a) introduce a conceptual model of challenging situations and subsequently to (b) explore a range of challenging situations that occur in high-performance sport, and (c) discover how such challenging situations are managed and perceived by high-performance coaches. In this study, challenging situations in coach–athlete dyads are defined as organisational, performance, interpersonal, and personal stressors that can push or pull one or both the coach and athlete, and subsequently their relationship into a state of indeterminacy (i.e., the Grey Zone) that may cause stress, strain, conflict, or resolution and understanding depending on how the challenging situations are managed. A total of 11 current high-performance and World Class Performance coaches (M = 41.64 years old, SD = 10.69 years; female = 4, male = 7), took part in a semistructured interview aided by vignettes to explore and discover the process by which coaches deal with challenging situations. Using a pragmatism approach, a content analysis guided by the conceptual Grey Zone Model was utilised to analyse the obtained qualitative data. Results indicated that coaches regularly experience challenging situations and use a variety of techniques to manage them. The Grey Zone Model is proposed as a practical tool to help coaches, athletes, and other practitioners, such as sport psychology consultants and coach developers to analyse the various phases of challenging situations.</p

The Goldilocks dilemma in coaching: women coaches’ experiences of stereotypical biases and a two-dimensional approach to combat them

The purpose of this study was to explore through semistructured interviews (a) the experiences of women coaches in relation to the stereotypical biases they may encounter in their workplace and (b) the strategies women coaches and sport organizations have, or can potentially put in place, to raise awareness and address these stereotypical biases. Content analysis of the obtained qualitative data using a rudimentary framework based upon the two sections of the interview schedule (i.e., dilemmas and strategies) guided categorization of the data. Findings indicated that women coaches experienced three broad types of stereotypical dilemmas: (a) extreme perceptions (e.g., too soft or too tough); (b) the high competence threshold (e.g., higher standards with lower rewards); and (c) competent but disliked (e.g., competent or likeable but rarely both). In addition, the findings indicated that tackling these stereotypical dilemmas effectively required a two-dimensional approach: individual and organizational. Within this paper, the authors discuss the ways women coaches both experience and confront a range of stereotypical dilemmas while moving into and through the coaching system. Such dilemmas inevitably disadvantaged women coaches by either slowing down or holding back their progress compared with their men coach counterparts. Practical solutions are also discussed.</p

Coaching through a “gender lens” may reveal myths that hinder female athletes: A multistudy investigation

The purpose of this multistudy paper was to explore (a) the coaching behaviors of male coaches when coaching either male or female teams through a systematic observation (Study 1) and (b) male and female coaches’ reasons for employing certain behaviors and practices when coaching female athletes through semistructured interviews (Study 2). Collectively, the findings of these two studies highlighted that coaches, either consciously or unconsciously, use a “gender lens” to coach their athletes. Study 1 findings showed that male coaches organize practice sessions (e.g., longer sessions for female than male athletes) and manifest coaching behaviors (e.g., more reinforcement for female than male athletes) that are different depending on whether they coach teams that comprise male or female athletes. Study 2 findings revealed gender biases in the approaches and styles coaches employed to coach their female and male athletes, suggesting that such methods could be limiting female athletes’ physical, social-emotional, and psychological development. This multistudy paper discusses how coaches’ good intentions to coach effectively can fall short and into a trap of gender stereotypes, leading to coaching the gender of the athletes as opposed to coaching each one athlete as an individual. The implications of these findings for practice are discussed