Opvoeders met Ballen. Een kwalitatief onderzoek naar de vraag of en hoe de manier van lesgeven van sportleiders en trainers wordt beïnvloed door de betekenissen die zij geven aan opvoeden door sport.

Abstract

Background The purpose of this study is to compare the sense making of sports club coaches and sports leaders in the neighborhood. What do they consider important in the training courses and sport activities they organize? In what way do they teach children? To what extent do they feel responsible for the upbringing of children? How do coaches and sports leaders differ in their vision and how do they match in this? Methods To find answers to all of these questions, a qualitative research is done. Through observations and interviews, the sense making of coaches and sports leaders has emerged. Results A striking result of the study is the difference in goals and visions that trainers and sports leaders have. Coaches want to teach children sport related skills, to improve their technique and game understanding. Sports leaders, however, want to give all children the opportunity to participate in sports. Here sport is used as a means to keep children off the streets and to offer them a positive leisure activity. Every action of the coaches and sport leaders, seems to arise from these goals they have. Discussion The actions of coaches and sports leaders can be explained by the characteristics of Weick (1995). He says that meanings arise from the context in which people are located. Coaches and sports leaders look back on their own experiences and those around them play a major role in the meanings given. Conclusion Coaches in this study do not feel responsible for the upbringing of children. They focus on the development of sport skills only. By acting at the goals they pursue, coaches do have an effect on children's education. Since coaches are not focusing on the upbringing of children, they will not always educate them the 'right way'. They are educators with balls like footballs, baseballs, volleyballs and basketballs. Sports leaders do think that their task is to educate children through sport. They are committed mainly for social and moral development of children. But because the activities in the neighborhood are often without engagement, sports leaders believe that they do not have time to really make a contribution to the upbringing of children. The sports leaders are educators with balls. Despite the limitations they face, they still try to contribute to the education of children. A combination of participating in a sports club and participating in sports activities in the neighborhood, seems to be the best way to optimally educate children.