Abstract
Little is known about the lived experiences of immigrants as coaches within the amateur sport ranks or about how amateur sport organizations are accommodating the needs of newcomers. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore these issues with the assistance of members of the newcomer and minority ethnic communities, and those who work as sport coaches, and administrators in a city in Atlantic Canada. Seventeen individuals participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews and/or a follow-up focus group interview. Three major themes emerged: Differences in perceived versus expected levels of involvement and the influence of privilege on newcomers' involvement in sport; how to include newcomers in sport and, more specifically, barriers to and responsibility for inclusion in sport and coaching; and how sport organizations can best communicate information to newcomers about coaching opportunities. Barriers to participation in coaching by newcomers appear to be both personal and systemic in nature.
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