The Relationship Between Online Coaching Characteristics, Lifter Satisfaction and Performance in Powerlifters

Abstract

With the sport of powerlifting growing rapidly, there is an increased demand for coaches. Currently, powerlifting coaches predominantly conduct their business online. Due to a lack of regulation, online coaching has a low barrier to entry, therefore, the likelihood of poor coaching practice occurring is increased. Additionally, to date, there is no research observing performance-based outcomes and remote coaching practices. Therefore, the aim of this dissertation was to observe current online powerlifting coaching practices and relationships between coaching characteristics, powerlifting performance and lifter satisfaction. Firstly, a literature review was done to develop an understanding of current remote coaching literature. As there have been no studies observing performance-based outcomes, research observing health-based outcomes was utilised. Based on themes within the literature, an anonymous online survey was designed and distributed to powerlifters (n = 113) who have or had been receiving online powerlifting coaching. The survey aimed to gain insight into current coaching practices and participants’ communication structure with their coach and important powerlifting outcomes. Survey results showed that coaching relationships were, on average, 21.75 ± 14.5 months long, over 90% of lifters communicated with their coach at least once per week, and 40.7% received verbal feedback and 58.3% written. The strongest relationship observed in this study was between longer coach-lifter relationships and greater increases in powerlifting total. Additionally, higher coach education (within a field relevant to exercise) was associated with greater lifter satisfaction scores broadly, although there was complexity to this relationship, as well as increases in powerlifting total. These findings provide insight into current online powerlifting coach practices and suggest longer relationships between coach and lifter may be important for increasing powerlifting performance. Additionally, coaches may benefit from higher education within a field relevant to exercise.