Coaches' perceptions of French sports clubs: Health-promotion activities, aims and coach motivation. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Van Hoye, Aurélie; Sarrazin, Philippe; Heuzé, Jean-Philippe; Kokko, Sami
• Is Part Of: Health education journal. Volume 74:Number 2(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 231
• Page End: 243
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Coaches -- France -- health promotion -- self-determined motivation -- sports clubs; Health education -- Periodicals; 613.071
• DOI: 10.1177/0017896914531510
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-8969

Abstract

Background: Given the benefits of participating in sport, sports clubs have been recognised as health-promoting organizations. To examine health-promotion activities in Finnish sports clubs, Kokko et al. developed a set of standards for health-promoting sports clubs (HPSC). Objective: The present study extends this line of research, by (1) measuring coaches' perceptions of health- promotion activities in French sports clubs and comparing them to earlier Finnish results, (2) measuring coaches' perceptions of the health-promotion aims of sports clubs and (3) examining the links between HPSC and coaches' self-determined motivation. Methods: Coaches ( N = 125) completed a modified version of the HPSC questionnaire and a scale assessing their motivation to coach. Results: Coaches perceived French and Finnish sports clubs as fairly health promoting, but with wide variability between clubs. In both countries, sports clubs scores showed the same patterns: high scores for ideology and environment activities, and low scores for policies, practices and partnership . Coaches' perceptions of clubs' aims also followed the same pattern, but with higher scores for each dimension, meaning that coaches considered health promotion as a relevant aim for sports clubs. Finally, controlling for demographic variables, the HPSC index and sub-indices were related to coaches' self-determined motivation. Conclusion: This study strengthens the previous findings for health promotion in the setting of sports clubs and the positive role of these activities on coaches' motivation to coach.