The European Para Sport Coaching Workforce: A Quasi-Professional Space

Huntley, TD, Townsend, RC, Cronin, C ORCID: 0000-0002-1687-4437, Williams, C, Hardwick, AE ORCID: 0000-0003-4135-1627, Ryrie, A ORCID: 0000-0001-9150-2038, Lewis, C, McQuilliam, S ORCID: 0000-0002-4987-5938, Cushion, C and Whitehead, A ORCID: 0000-0003-0611-364X (2025) The European Para Sport Coaching Workforce: A Quasi-Professional Space. International Sport Coaching Journal. ISSN 2328-918X

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Abstract

Coaches in Paralympic and disability sport (Para coaching) play a significant societal role by providing opportunities for disabled people in sport and physical activity. Such is its importance; this role is now recognised by the European Union (EU) and its professionalisation agenda. Therefore, drawing on Abbott’s (1988) theory of professions and Thomas’s (1999) social relational model of disability this original transnational study considers critically the characteristics of the European Para coaching workforce. Data collection followed a mixed methodology via an online survey of Para coaches (N=275). Combining quantitative and qualitative data, the analysis generated three higher order themes, ‘Exclusion, differentiated labour force and working contexts’, ‘Uneven coach education and development opportunities’ and ‘Impairment effect as a source of coaches professional knowledge’. These themes illuminate Para coaching as a quasi-professional space shaped by specific workforce characteristics and those mediated by sporting domains. The findings and recommendations prompt significant considerations for policy makers, coach educators and sport organisations.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Accepted author manuscript version reprinted, by permission, from International Sport Coaching Journal, 2025 https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2024-0147. © Human Kinetics, Inc
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences; 1303 Specialist Studies in Education; 1701 Psychology; 3904 Specialist studies in education; 4207 Sports science and exercise; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports > GV711 Coaching G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Human Kinetics
Date of acceptance:	8 July 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	12 September 2025
Date Deposited:	12 Sep 2025 10:00
Last Modified:	12 Sep 2025 10:15
DOI or ID number:	10.1123/iscj.2024-0147
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27151

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