Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2018 Coaching life skills through sport: An application of the teaching personal and social responsibility model to youth sport in eSwatini Zenzi Huysmans [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Part of the Other Psychology Commons, and the Sports Studies Commons Recommended Citation Huysmans, Zenzi, "Coaching life skills through sport: An application of the teaching personal and social responsibility model to youth sport in eSwatini" (2018). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 3717. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/3717 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Coaching life skills through sport: An application of the teaching personal and social responsibility model to youth sport in eSwatini Zenzi Huysmans, M.S. Dissertation submitted to the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate of Philosophy in Kinesiology with a Major in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology Sport and Exercise Psychology Damien Clement, Ph.D., Chair Sam Zizzi, Ed.D. Christiaan Abildso, Ph.D., MPH Meredith Whitley Ph.D., Adelphi University Department of Sport Sciences Morgantown, West Virginia 2018 Keywords: youth development, life skills, coaching, teaching personal and social responsibility model, eSwatini Copyright 2018 Zenzi Huysmans Abstract Coaching life skills through sport: An application of the teaching personal and social responsibility model to youth sport in eSwatini Zenzi Huysmans Adolescence is a formative developmental period where youth learn the life skills and values needed to become compassionate and civically-engaged young people and navigate increasingly challenging global environments. Youth in eSwatini face major context-specific challenges that impede their healthy development as well as limited engagement with government initiatives intended to support their development. This feasibility study aimed to employ youth sport as a creative and engaging context to facilitate life skills development in underprivileged youth in eSwatini. Specifically, this study explored the youth participation experiences, positive youth outcomes, and implementation successes and challenges of a sport program for underprivileged youth in a community in eSwatini. The sport program was designed using the teaching personal and social responsibility (TPSR) model, which is a well-established instructional model for life skills education through sport. Although this model had been widely applied in Western contexts, the current study explored how the model might operate differently in a non-Western context where youth face different developmental challenges. An intervention design was employed to implement a three-week sport program for youth in a small community in the Lobamba region of eSwatini. Local coaches were the primary implementers of the program and participants were youth (N=33), aged 11-15 years old, who attended the grade six and seven literacy development afternoon club at a community-based children’s organization. Findings from the current feasibility study provided further support for the value of using the TPSR framework in the design and implementation of sport-based life skills education programming in a novel youth context in eSwatini. The focus of the model on building caring coach-youth relationships, creating an enjoyable sport experience, fostering small successes, and providing intentional opportunities for youth to actively practice and engage in their own learning were the most meaningful elements of the model in the current youth context. The developmental outcomes and changes in life skills associated with participation in the current program may also be highly pertinent to helping youth navigate the most salient health and resource challenges in the community. Notably, the current study also identified culture and context-specific considerations that should be made when implementing TPSR-based youth programming in eSwatini. These included, but are not limited to, adaptations to the awareness talk and self- reflection time, the use of active learning strategies and behavioral management techniques, and the provision of fruit and food to meet basic survival needs. Continued future explorations of the program design elements and coaching strategies that most meaningfully contribute to a holistic youth development and a positive sport participation experience in eSwatini is warranted. iii Acknowledgements Traveler, the path is your tracks And nothing more Traveler, there is no path The path is made by walking - Antonio Machado – It takes a village to raise a child and I have had so many supporting hands help me get to this point. To the family, friends, and community in eSwatini who believed in me from the very beginning, “I am because we are”. What a beautiful thing to have been shaped by so many kind hearts over the years. Siyabonga kakhulu! To the children of the Moya Center, the staff, and the coaches who helped me bring this dissertation to life. It was an immense privilege to develop this program alongside you all. You are the reason why I do what I do. To the community members, key informants, coaches, and students who participated in the needs assessment that grounded this dissertation, thank you! Your voices are present in every chapter of this dissertation story! To my wonderful SEP colleagues. As the African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.” We have journeyed far together…and what an adventure it has been! Over the years we have shared so many moments of laughter and joy, and also experiences of sadness and challenge. In those difficult times, your support and kindness have meant everything to me. I will cherish both; the deep belly laughter and also the compassion you have shown me! Thank you! Matt and Tammy…not all heroes wear capes! Thank you for investing yourselves so fully in the coding process of my dissertation. Your enthusiasm and dedication to my work was a beautiful thing to witness. To the SEP and Counseling faculty members and my dissertation committee. I have been lucky to grow both personally and professionally under the wings of such compassionate, dedicated, and pioneering people. Dr. Clement: over the years you have pushed me to become the best possible version of me. You have supported my independence while also reaching out a helping hand when I needed it. Dr. Zizzi: You have helped me trust my way of being and enjoy the journey as it unfolds. Your kindness has been so appreciated. Dr. Etzel: it has meant more than you know to journey around the world with you through our chats about music, books, recipes, and life experiences. Thank you for trusting and nurturing my vision for consulting when I was still searching for my professional identity. Dr. Whitley: You have dedicated your life’s work to using sport as a platform for the positive and holistic development of youth all over the world. Your passion and work ethic is truly an inspiration. I hope to emulate that in my own professional journey. Dr. Abildso: Thank you for taking a leap with me. I look forward to continuing to explore the intersection of sport and community-based public health programming under your mentorship. To my dearest friends, you are my heart and soul connections for life! The greatest gifts of life are friendships, and I have been blessed with some truly beautiful ones. See you in eSwatini one day! Killeen, it’s hard to describe how you have impacted my life. In some of my most difficult iv moments of challenge, you were an unwavering presence. You give to everyone around you so selflessly. I feel privileged to have shared this chapter with you, to have watched your continued growth into a strong, compassionate, and balanced woman. Aaron. Morgantown will always be synonymous with you. Your way with people is something that will stick with me. You have an incredible ability to connect with others and make everyone you meet feel valued. Thank you for giving me a space to share the contents of my heart. Sofia, in you I have found a kindred spirit. A playful, optimistic, and deeply values-oriented soul. Thank you for the light you have brought to my life! Jay. Your determination and resilience have been pillars for me. Challenge upon challenge has been thrown your way and you have stepped up to the plate every time. Please know that even when you feel alone in those experiences, you are shaping the lives of those who are watching your fighting spirit. Thank you for all the laughter and roasts. I have met my match…but never underestimate the slow roast! Bobby. We have truly adventured far and wide together…through the depths of some personal sorrows, through the dark but also beautiful caves of consulting and counseling internship, all the way to the humor and authentic connection that characterizes our friendship. Thank you! August…our journey did not go the direction we imagined it. But you were my pillar and biggest supporter for a very long time. Thank you for growing with me and loving me. I will forever cherish the depth of the love we shared.