Difficulties Encountered by Coaches in Teaching Student Athletes

Abstract

This research determined the level of difficulties encountered by teacher-coaches in teaching student-athletes in a mega-sized public secondary school in a medium-sized division of the Negros Island Region during School Year 2020–2021, as a basis for a strategic intervention plan. A descriptive research design was employed, using a total enumeration of 50 public secondary school teacher-coaches across five sports categories (individual, dual, team, para-games, and combative). Data were gathered using a researcher-made survey questionnaire validated by experts (CVI = 4.50) and tested for internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.813). Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, weighted means, and the Mann–Whitney U test. Results revealed that the majority of coaches were older (52.0%), married (58.0%), and non-MAPEH majors (68.0%). Coaches experienced a moderate level of difficulty in Sports Skills Development (M = 2.88) and high levels of difficulty in Sports Support Services (M = 3.63) and Sports Management (M = 4.07). The most prominent challenges were accessing professional development programs (M = 4.84), providing suitable training venues and spaces (M = 4.34), and conducting regular consultations and planning sessions among coaches (M = 4.48). Inferential analysis via the Mann–Whitney U test indicated no significant differences in coaching difficulties when respondents were grouped by age and civil status (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were found in Sports Skills Development (U = 67.50, p = 0.000) and Sports Management (U = 147.00, p = 0.007) according to specialization, with non-MAPEH majors experiencing significantly greater difficulty than MAPEH majors. The study concluded that operational challenges in sports programs stem primarily from resource constraints and a lack of formal sports specialization among teacher-coaches, highlighting the urgent need for structured coaching capacity-building, facility adaptation, and institutionalized communication frameworks.