What did you study?
I examined the effectiveness of sport coach education in promoting learning and behaviour change. Specifically, I studied the professional development achieved by coaches who completed the Vocational Coach Education Programme and identified the educational principles and learning mechanisms that supported this development. My dissertation consists of three sub-studies. In the first, I evaluated coaches' perceived professional development and behaviour change using a questionnaire and identified enablers and barriers of behaviour change. In the second, I explored the development of intrapersonal knowledge, including reflective practice and self-awareness. In the third, I investigated the development of athlete-centred coaching during the programme.
What were the main findings of your research?
The programme supported coaches' professional development and behaviour change across examined areas. Behaviour change was primarily facilitated by improvements in professional capability, whereas the most significant barrier was coaches' perception that no change was needed. The effectiveness of the programme was based on learner-centred principles, which built upon coaches' prior knowledge and experience. Social learning and reflection emerged as the key mechanisms supporting coaches' development.
How can the findings be applied? What new knowledge did the study provide?
I proposed four practical recommendations for strengthening the effectiveness of coach education: implementing learner-centred educational practices, systematically incorporating behaviour change principles into programme design and delivery, creating conditions that foster social learning, and supporting and utilising reflection throughout the learning process. The study provides practical knowledge for developing the Vocational Coach Education Programme and contributes new evidence on the educational principles and learning mechanisms that enhance the effectiveness of coach education.
Public defence
M.Sc. Simo Siltanen will defend the doctoral dissertation 'Professional Learning and Behaviour Change in Coach Education – Educational Principles and Mechanisms Supporting Coaches' Development on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at 12:00 noon in lecture hall S212 of the Seminarium Building, University of Jyväskylä.
- Opponent: Head of Subject, Dr Andrew Abraham (Leeds Beckett University)
- Custos: Professor Arja Sääkslahti (University of Jyväskylä)
- Language of the public defence: English
