Professional knowledge acquired by handball coaches: training and experience

Abstract

This study aimed to ascertain the source of the knowledge used by the handball coaches in their professional tasks. A total of 333 handball coaches participated in this study: 86.8% men and 13.2% women. A questionnaire allowed us to find out whether the coaches used their experiences as players, academic training or experience garnered as coaches. The statistical analysis reflected the adequate validity and reliability (α > .70) of the factors of the scale, which verified this questionnaire as a useful tool. The coaches used three sources of knowledge (academic, experience as players and selftraining), with academic knowledge being used the most by coaches. The most highly trained coaches used experiences and knowledge gained as players less; the knowledge acquired in their professional lives were used the most.