An exploration of foreign national coaching practices at a community sports club on the Cape Flats, Western Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

This study explored the experiences and relationships of a foreign national handball coach and other role players at a community handball club on the Cape Flats in Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa. The objectives were to (i) explore the cultural diversity perspectives and experiences of the handball coach and the other role players at the club; (ii) identify what worked and if there were obstacles that could impact teamwork and social cohesion; and (iii) propose recommendations on how the obstacles could be overcome or prevented. The main research question was: Which cultural diversity factors influence the coaching behaviour of a foreign national handball coach at the community sports club? Three sub-research questions guided the data collection and the discussion of the results in Chapter Four. They were (1) Why was cultural diversity important in handball coaching? (2) How did cultural diversity impact the relationship between the coach and the other role players at the community club? (3) If challenges were reported, how could they be overcome to restore trust and promote team spirit among the different role players at the club? Hegtvedt and Turner's (1989) Social Interaction Theory, based on the Advanced Relative Social Inclusion Framework proposed by Cobigo et al. (2016), was used as the theoretical framework for this study. The framework consists of elements and factors that contribute to social inclusion. The study was qualitative and used an intrinsic single-case study research design (Stake, 2010). The design enabled the researcher to explore and understand the real-life experiences and behaviours of the three participant groups in their natural setting, which was a handball community club in one of the townships on the Cape Flats.