5C´s coaching education - For positive youth development

Background The Sýnum Karakter www.synumkarakter.is (Developing Character) project was the impetus for this project, which the Icelandic Olympic and Sport Association and the Icelandic Youth Association started in 2016. It was an initiative to encourage sports clubs and coaches to take care of the psychological and social aspects of training and educating young people in sports. However, what was lacking was courses in training the psychosocial elements that were needed. We wanted to investigate whether it is possible to increase the well-being and development of youth athletes and coaches by giving the athletes the opportunity to learn sports psychology through coaches and how to apply it as well as the physical and technical aspects of sports training. Firstly, we applied for the project in order to investigate whether coaches could receive educational material on psychosocial training alongside other training in their sport and deliver it to youth athletes. Secondly, there was the need to explore if the 5C framework and methodology contributes to the development of core psychosocial competencies and life skills in young people. Objectives The 5C's intervention aimed to positively impact the local sports environment by emphasizing the importance of psychosocial aspects in sports training for athletes, coaches, and parents. It provided access to education on implementing the 5Cs through club coaches, with informed coaching practices leading to anticipated positive effects assessed through psychosocial evaluations. Beyond this direct intervention within specific clubs, the project aimed to influence sports groups in Iceland to use the framework following project completion. Regionally, the 5Cs sought to become an integral part of coach education at major Icelandic sports Federations and were adopted by sports clubs under the Icelandic Olympic and Sport Association. This initiative could potentially extend to Nordic countries, addressing the gap in psychosocial training in coach education, and ultimately fostering healthier youth with strong character and self-esteem. Moreover, it encouraged a shift towards prioritizing individual development over competitive success, promoting increased participation among youth athletes and coaches. Implementation Development of e-learning materials: A comprehensive e-learning resource was developed to facilitate trainers' acquaintance with the principles and applications of the 5C framework. A dedicated educational workshop was conducted, involving coaches from the two participating sports clubs. The workshop served as a platform for interactive learning and practical training on the nuances of the 5Cs. The 5C methodology was systematically incorporated into the operational processes of two sports clubs. Coaches underwent specialized training in psychological skills development, aligning with the principles of the 5Cs. A thorough study was conducted spanning pre-implementation, implementation, and post-implementation phases. This comprehensive study aimed to assess the effectiveness and impact of integrating the 5Cs into the sporting environment. A set of informative cards educating on the core concepts of the 5Cs was created for augmented learning, discussion and action setting. These materials served as valuable reference tools for coaches, athletes and parents, aiding in the practical application of the methodology. An online platform was established to disseminate information and resources pertaining to the 5Cs see www.5c.is Achievements Our project has yielded several tangible outputs and outcomes: Establishment of a dedicated website, accessible at www.5C.is, serving as a comprehensive resource hub for project-related information, updates, and resources. Development of a coaching course tailored for coaches and sports clubs aiming to enhance the psychological skills of coaching practitioners, providing valuable training in implementing the 5C framework Development of 5C cards designed to serve as a user-friendly introduction to each of the five Cs individually. Extensive data collection efforts conducted throughout the project, including the administration of relevant psychosocial questionnaires, interviews with practitioners, coaches, and parents, as well as on-site observations by experts during coaching practice and meetings. This data has illustrated the value of the 5Cs Framework to coach and athlete development Ongoing academic endeavours by universities involved in the project, resulting in papers based on the rich dataset generated by the project. These scholarly works will be disseminated publicly, contributing to the broader discourse in the field.