O’Brien, Paul T.
ORCID: 0000-0001-5076-8817 and Taylor, Robin D
ORCID: 0000-0001-9530-8355
(2025)
A pick and mix approach: an exploration of a multiple mentor network for developing coaches.
Sports Coaching Review
.
ISSN 2164-0637
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of mentees in a multiple mentor network (MMN) in a Gaelic Games tertiary education environment. The primary purpose was to identify the effectiveness of an MMN for student-coaches, while the secondary purpose was to explore the impact of programme design. A multi-methods research design was adopted. Mentors (n = 4) and mentees (n = 6) completed online reflective journals throughout the eight-month programme. Semi-structured interviews, conducted by the programme coordinator, were completed before, during and after the programme, which were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. The findings explored a) the role of the programme coordinator, b) programme design, c) the mentoring process and relationships developing d) the development of an informal mentoring community, e) in-situ coach education, and f) changing coaching practice of mentees and their epistemology. Consequently, the findings have implications for the implementation of mentoring programmes and a need for understanding contextual factors when delivering.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article (Published) |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Formal mentoring, mentees, student coaches , coach education, programme coordinator |
| Subjects: | Medical Sciences > Health Medical Sciences > Performance Medical Sciences > Sports sciences |
| DCU Faculties and Centres: | DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health > School of Health and Human Performance |
| Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
| Official URL: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21640... |
| Copyright Information: | Authors |
| ID Code: | 33213 |
| Deposited On: | 18 Aug 2026 13:31 by Eimear Maher . Last Modified 18 Aug 2026 13:31 |
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