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Final report on sport coaches’ capacity to use sport as a tool for the development of skills and competencies functional to the Labour market

Dora Martins , Isabel Ardions , Pedro Mendonça , Paula Carvalho , Celia Marcen , Sara Vivirito , Nicola Stöcker , et al

ISLA — Instituto Politécnico de Gestão e Tecnologia

2023

The "Sport4E - Skills through Sport for Employability and Entrepreneurship" project aims to improve educational outcomes by prioritizing skill development in alignment with the EU Guidelines on Dual Careers of Athletes. It focuses on empowering young athletes, coaches, and educators by emphasizing working and entrepreneurial skills. The project addresses the perceptual gap between sport coaches and human resources professionals regarding skills relevant to the labor market. The methodology involved the development of an Entrepreneurial Skills Questionnaire for athletes, based on literature reviews and translated into partner languages. This questionnaire was adapted for coaches and HR stakeholders. The survey involved 202 athletes, 144 coaches, and 120 HR professionals. Evaluation of skills and competencies revealed disparities between athletes' self-assessment and actual development through sports. Coaches rated their skills higher than HR professionals in some areas, emphasizing the need for a broader set of entrepreneurial skills among athletes. Focus group interviews with coaches and employers (29 coaches and 31 employers) identified 34 skills in demand in the labor market, with 10 overlapping with those developed through sports. Coaches were recognized as pivotal in transferring athletes' soft skills for job placement, but challenges included time constraints and lack of comprehensive training programs. Proposed strategies involve effective communication, increased awareness of coaches' educational roles, and collaboration between coaches, athletes, HR consultants, and companies. In conclusion, the "Sport4E" project provides insights into bridging the gap between athletes' skills and market demands. It emphasizes the integration of sports and entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of targeted coaching and educational resources for a successful transition into the labour market.

Keywords

#sports coaches #Employability #Entrepreneurial skills #labour market skills #Soft skills #skill transfer #school-to-work transition #coaching #Athletes #Psychology #Medical education #Entrepreneurship

Bibliographic Details

Publication Type Book

Publication Year 2023

ISLA Authors & Affiliations

Final report on sport coaches’ capacity to use sport as a tool for the development of skills and competencies functional to the Labour market

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Keywords

Bibliographic Details

ISLA Authors & Affiliations