An evaluation of the current provision of grass-roots coach education in English football: A study in conjunction with the Football Association (FA)

The Opportunity: Applications are invited from outstanding applicants for a groundbreaking three-year PhD studentship in the area of Coach Education. In conjunction with the Football Association (FA), the successful candidate will draw on appropriate theoretical frameworks to evaluate the current provision of grass roots coach education. In doing so, the candidate will develop knowledge of mixed methods research, produce evaluative work for industry partners, and make a significant and original contribution to extant coach research. The successful candidate will begin as soon as possible and will be based at both Liverpool John Moores University and St George’s Park (the home of the FA). It is therefore anticipated that the successful candidate will benefit from this unique opportunity by developing a wide variety of professional and personal skills in areas such as research, coaching, teaching, and sport development.

Background: The Football Association is the governing body of association football in England, and the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest football association in the world and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the amateur and professional game in its territory. In terms of coaching, the FA has a clear mission statement as it embarks on its new 5 years strategy (2015-2020):

LJMU expertise: At JMU, we have a specific research unit, the Football Exchange, which explores, amongst other things, how coaches can support player skill acquisition through instructional, practice and simulation strategies. An example of this work is the video-based, time-use analysis of coaching sessions to identify differences in coaching activities and how they differentially effect skill acquisition and the development of expert performance in players. We work with partners such as Real Madrid, UEFA, FIFA, Everton, Manchester United, The Football Association, French Football Federation, Umbro and Nike, among others.

Research aim: This research outline has been provided on the premise that the research partners will contribute to the evolving research questions, design and implementation and, as such, the following details provide a generic overview of the plan.
It is acknowledged that learning is not episodic and an isolated activity (Entwistle and Peterson, 2004). Having attended a coaching course across a number of days, coaches return to their natural environment and begin to coach. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore coaches’ perceptions of the intent and efficacy of coach education across Level 1 and Level 2. Subsequently, ‘wash-out’ effect will be monitored longitudinally to track the impact of coach education. Wash out effect refers to the components of delivery that are lost in the real world – when coaches return to their natural environments having attended a course and start coaching.

Research design: The use of a Realist evaluation conceptual framework (Pawson and Tilley (1997), will allow the research team to understand the social systems that underline the coach’s lived experiences. In Pawson & Tilley’s terms, programmes are often introduced simultaneously in multiple contexts, which is true for coach education provisions. Due to the mechanisms, and differing contexts, any programme is liable to have mixed outcomes (Pawson and Tilley, 2004). The simple formulae which will frame the study design is: outcome (O) = mechanisms (M) + context (C) (Pawson and Tilley, 1997, p.71). Furthermore, realist evaluators ask not, “’what works for whom?’ or, ‘Does this program work?’ but asks instead, ‘what works for whom in what circumstance and in what respects and how?’” (Pawson and Tilley, 2004, p.2). Realist evaluation offers the study a systematic and logical form of enquiry to understand the complex mechanisms and contexts that create a range of different outcomes.

The Appointment Process
After requesting and receiving the Job Description for the post, the following is required:
• two referees with knowledge of your academic suitability for undertaking a PhD
• A covering letter (max. 2 sides A4) outlining your suitability for the post
• A CV

Please send your documentation, FAO Dr Colum Cronin, to Wendy Bowe [Email Address Removed] on or before 4pm, Friday 3rd February.

Interviews will take place at St. George’s Park, Tatenhill, Burton upon Trent DE13 9RN, on 27 February 2017.

Further details and informal discussion with Professor David Richardson on 0151 9046283/ [Email Address Removed], or Dr Colum Cronin on 07972 198083 or [Email Address Removed].