title: The high performance swimming coach as a leader
title: developing contextual fit
titleType: Subtitle
Creators: name: Robbins, Paul
Publisher: name: Lancaster University
Year: 2019

description: This thesis addresses the question of how a High Performance Swimming
      Coach (HPSC) in the UK, acting as a leader, develops a contextual fit for
      their role of facilitating elite athlete performance. The main goal of the
      research was to explore the nature of elite swimming coaching in order to
      reveal the factors that give an HPSC, from an ontological standpoint,
      feelings of being at home in their chosen career.
      
      The main theoretical perspectives used in the analysis of research data
      were leadership, including the concepts of management, and sociology. The
      sociological perspectives on leadership encompass the concepts of social
      interactionism and Pierre Bourdieu’s habitus, capital and field. It became
      evident, in the early stages of the research, that an eclectic mix of
      theories would enable a more comprehensive and rounded analysis of the
      research data.
      
      The primary research method selected was a qualitative, single case study,
      although elements of phenomenology, heuristic inquiry and ethnography were
      also employed in the gathering of the research data. The aim was to gain
      first-hand accounts from elite swimming coaches in the UK, from an
      existential viewpoint, of their journey towards becoming an effective
      HPSC.
      
      Primary data for the research was collected from three sources: a
      purposive sample of 32 HPSCs from a range of swimming organisations across
      the UK; informal interviews and observations at major swimming
      competitions in the UK; and responses from high profile UK and
      international HPSCs involved in coaching forums at British Swimming
      Coaches Association (BSCA) annual conferences.
      
      Findings from the analysis revealed that HPSCs execute their role within
      five distinct social fields, which are all sources of mediating influences
      and determinants of contextual fit. These five generic fields are: the
      core HPSC-athlete field; the competition arena; the swimming organisation;
      UK Sport and British society. It is, however, the first three fields that
      exert the most social pressure on the HPSC and are the main focus for the
      research.
      
      The findings also revealed that the determinants of contextual fit are
      contextualised identity and contextualised leadership. Contextualised
      identity is realised when the HPSC becomes the embodiment of their
      swimming organisation within the five contextual fields. Relationships
      formed and the social influence that the HPSC has within the milieu define
      their contextualised leadership.
      
      All the 32 HPSCs interviewed showed high levels of personal drive and
      competitiveness and were ruthless regarding the standards they set
      themselves and expected from their athletes. As a counterbalance, however,
      to a tough no-nonsense approach, they exhibited high levels of emotional
      intelligence, emotional labour, and care for their athletes. Other factors
      revealed included highly developed contextual awareness, an insatiable
      hunger for swimming-related technical knowledge and a high learning
      agility.
      
      In their operational role, they displayed an ability to see what other
      coaches were unable to see, through a highly developed ‘Coaching-Eye’.
      They could also build effective coachathlete relationships and project
      manage a team of technical support agents to meet the needs of their
      athletes competing on the world stage.
      
      Recommendations for further research and HPSC continued professional
      development include the Coaching-Eye, relationships, contracting with a
      range of stakeholders, project management and suggestions for future
      choices of theoretical perspectives for investigations into leadership
      phenomena.