(Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2014-01-27) Cummings, Jessica
The objective of this study was to understand the adaptation challenges and solutions
experienced by immigrant coaches relocated to Canada. Ten high performance immigrant
coaches were recruited, each completing a demographic questionnaire and partaking in an
individual interview, providing insight into their experiences and cultural challenges. Results of
the study were presented under two central themes: a) communication (language barriers and
coach-athlete negotiations), and b) socialization (Canadian sport backdrop and views of sport in
the immigrant coach’s home versus host country). A common adaptation solution was the
importance of social support resources, with the immigrant coaches adjusting with less
acculturative stress when a reciprocal relationship was developed between themselves and those
they worked with. From this preliminary project there is an indication that sport psychology
consultants (SPCs) should work with immigrant coaches, and coaches and athletes of the host
country to foster this bi-directional learning processes, facilitating the coaches’ transition.
