Paper
Using an Online Learning-Management System for Coachi
Published Apr 1, 2012 · D. Mears, Matthew R. Martin, D. Balderson
Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance
9
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Abstract
Participating in organized sports has many potential benefits, including the development of physical skills, friendship building, improvement of social skills, and enhancement of self concept (Kowalski, 2008; Smoll, Smith, Barnett, & Everett, 1993; Weiss & Hayashi, 1996). Unfortunately, many nonschool-based programs rely on parent volunteers who have no formal training in working with young athletes. Many parents agree to coach for the primary reason of spending quality time with their own children, even though they often lack the experience needed to provide young athletes with appropriate activities for developing competency and encouraging continued participation in sport (Barnett, Smoll, & Smith, 1992; Wiersma & Sherman, 2005). In addition, most youth sport programs provide little, if any, support, training, or mentorship opportunities for parent volunteers (Hedstrom & Gould, 2004). This lack of support is often due to limited budgets or a scarcity of qualified individuals to conduct coaching workshops or clinics. When in-person training is offered, participation rates often suffer because of family or other work responsibilities. All these factors make turning to an online learning-management system (LMS) a potential solution. An LMS (also known as a virtual-learning environment) is a software program used extensively to deliver online courses and instruction across many disciplines, including education (Graf, Kinshuk, & Tzu-Chien, 2009), medicine (Johnson et al., 2004), and business (Hershey & Wood, 2011). Learning-management systems also have been shown to be an effective method of providing professional development in corporate settings (Martin, Quigley, & Rogers, 2005). The appeal of using an LMS is that it is a flexible and convenient method of providing online education and training. Popular LMS software systems, such as Blackboard, Learning 9.1, WebCT, ANGEL, and Moodle, offer many features to support teaching and learning, including tools for online discussions and group chats (Yueh & Hsu, 2008).
An online learning-management system (LMS) can provide valuable support and training for parent volunteers in youth sports, improving their ability to effectively guide young athletes and encourage continued participation in sports.
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