Coaching the coaches: exploring the effectiveness of the 'Move Well Be strong' youth injury prevention programme for grassroot coaches and PE teachers.

Introduction: Coaches play a major role in developing movement in their performers, especially at grassroots levels. However, there are significant knowledge gaps amongst grassroots coaches and physical education (PE) teachers regarding movement competency and injury prevention programs. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of knowledge gain, adoption and implementation following a youth injury prevention workshop for grassroots coaches and PE teachers.

Methods: 56 grassroots coaches and PE teachers completed a validated questionnaire exploring use, knowledge, attitude towards and confidence to deliver youth movement competency training before and after an online workshop. Bayesian Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to assess the knowledge, attitude, and confidence to deliver an injury prevention programme following the workshop. For all the Bayesian inference tests run, the Bayesian factor (BF) was interpreted using the evidence categories ranging from extreme evidence (BF > 100) to anecdotical evidence (BF < 1).

Results: Post-workshop there was a 34% increase in respondents indicating that they had greater knowledge of injury prevention issues (55% pre-workshop vs 89% post-workshop) with statistically positive and moderate effects (BF > 100 [extreme evidence]). There was also a 25% increase in respondents indicating that they had a more sympathetic attitude towards injury prevention (67% sympathetic pre-workshop vs 93% sympathetic post-workshop) with statistically moderate effects (BF = 87.4 [very strong evidence]). A 19% increase in attendees' confidence to deliver an injury prevention programme was observed (69% high pre-workshop vs. 89% high post-workshop) with statistically moderate effects (BF = 85.9 [very strong evidence]). 100% of participants indicated an intent to adopt the injury prevention programme.

Conclusions: An online workshop increased knowledge and confidence in grassroots coaches and PE teachers to deliver a youth injury prevention programme. Knowledge gained from training and upskilling created a positive attitude and confidence to deliver movement competency into coaching. Appropriate resources need to be developed and delivered in an accessible way to grassroots coaches and PE teachers workshops and should be included in governing body coaching awards or as continuing professional development for youth coaches and PE teachers.