Coaching Cultures

<p>Coaches are amongst the most visible figures in sport today but little is known about the history of their profession. </p><p>This book examines the history of coaching from the early nineteenth to the late twentieth century. It uses a number of sports as case studies that includes: cricket swimming rugby union athletics football and tennis. The focus is largely English but international examples are used to illuminate the British context. </p><p>A number of themes are explored. Initially in the 1800s the coach was like an artisan who learned his skills on the job and coaching was similar to a craft. Early coaches were professionals but from the late nineteenth century an amateur elite governed British sport who inhibited and in some sports banned coaching. As the twentieth century progressed though different sports at different stages began to embrace coaching as international competition intensified. In addition the nature of coaching changed as a more scientific and managerial approach was applied. Finally in football the export of early British coaches is examined in light of the migration of international athletes and also as a process of ‘knowledge transfer’.</p><p>This book was published as a special issue of <em>Sport in History</em>.</p>