Promising practices of dairy, horse, and livestock evaluation Career Development Event coaches.

摘要

Career Development Events (CDEs) are a traditional learning experience offered to thousands of youth through venues such as 4-H, FFA and breed associations. Adults coaching these youth come from a variety of backgrounds, with a wide range of formal and non-formal training in preparation and coaching of a team. Professionals have observed a wide range of preparedness and performance of many youth participating in horse, dairy, and livestock CDE's, and believe content competence, coaching competence, and self-efficacy of the coach directly impact preparedness and success of youth. The purpose of the present study was to describe promising practices of successful dairy, horse, and livestock CDE coaches in Indiana. Utilizing the theoretical frameworks of symbolic interactionism, social cognitive theory, and cognitive apprenticeship theory, the researcher interviewed expert dairy, horse, and livestock CDE coaches taking into account previous experience, coaching philosophy, coaching objectives, coaching style, and advice. Additionally, a questionnaire was sent to the accessible population of all Indiana dairy, horse, and livestock CDE coaches to determine utilization of promising coaching practices and relationship to student performance. Twenty-six promising practices and eight central tendencies were identified from the interviews of expert coaches. Central tendencies included expectations, effective coach, experience, goals, knowing the youth, foundational knowledge, youth development, and positive environment. The expert coaches interviewed shared a deep sense of passion and dedication toward youth development and coaching, as well as a desire to see new coaches gain the resources and experience to be successful. Coach and youth related influential and motivating promising practices were found to be most utilized by coaches. Additionally, youth performance was related to utilization of promising practices, specifically competitive and expectancy related promising practices. Findings from this study suggest the utilization of promising practices would facilitate greater coaching success in terms of competition and youth development.