Abstract
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Sport is suggested as a potentially important and sufficient path for positive youth development.
However, how this responsibility is translated by coaching practitioners is not understood. This
research investigated whether coaching practitioners desire outcomes for their adolescent
athletes that reach beyond on-field success, and incorporate constructs that are associated
with positive youth development. Twenty-two participation coaches for adolescent athletes
participated in semi-structured interviews. Results suggest that coaches see themselves as
responsible for facilitating eight interrelated and interdependent themes that are consistent
with the positive youth development literature: competence, confidence, connection, character,
life skills, climate, positive affect and, positive psychological capacities.