“Developing Players as People and Learners”: How Reflective of Orthodox Masculinity Traits Are the Preferred Pedagogies of Five Regional Rugby Union Coaches?

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Traditionally male-dominated contact sport environments such as the football codes are seen as primary propagators of attitudes and values associated with “orthodox” masculinity. Administrators, spectators, media commentators and parents contribute to the promotion of traditional Australian cultural ideals of masculinity such as physical toughness, aggression, competitiveness, stoicism and emotional reticence as desirable masculine traits. Male coaches, too, are seen as significant institutional agents in this indoctrination process. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of five regionally based volunteer rugby union coaches’ lived experiences, coaching practices and the beliefs underpinning them was undertaken. While these coaches were brought up in heavily masculine environments where sport was an avenue to demonstrate and assert themselves as males along orthodox lines, these same formative environments taught them to accept and care for others. Contrary to the traditional image of regional male coaches operating in a hypermasculine contact sport environment, these coaches demonstrated tendencies reflecting alternative versions of masculinity, expressing a preference for humanistic pedagogical practices centred on caring, empathy, compassion and communication. With scarce research into regional sports coaches’ beliefs and coaching practices, these findings fill a gap in the literature and provide sporting organisations and coach educators with insights into their volunteer coaching workforce.