Sports coaches apply their skills in a wider variety of contexts, and with a more diverse range of athletes and participants, than ever before. This book introduces the professional competencies and knowledge needed to build successful working relationships across the different communities and groups with which coaches operate.

The book offers important insight for coaches who work with specific populations including different age groups; black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people; those of different gender or sexual orientation; individuals with disabilities or illness; the socio-economically disadvantaged; and refugees. Drawing on real-world case studies, such as coaching girls in combat sports and coaching cardiac rehab patients, and adopting a critical approach to values, philosophy and pedagogic process, this book argues that understanding the recipient of coaching and their particular needs is as important as content knowledge.

With contributions from leading coaching researchers and practitioners, this is important reading for developing coaches, students on sports courses and other individuals involved in the sport pedagogy domain who seek to gain a better understanding of the demands of meeting the specific needs of people in the coaching process.