Examining the impact of coach mentoring in football

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the Football Association’s (hereafter FA) mentoring programme on coaching expertise. Data was collected through an online survey targeted purposefully at mentors and mentees engaged in the FA mentoring programme. Data was analysed using t-tests to establish a level of coherence between mentors and mentees re: their perceptions on the aims and processes of developing coaching expertise through mentoring. Results showed that there were inconsistencies and confusion with regards to the aims and processes of mentoring. Notably, these findings appeared to emanate from an epistemological gap between the programme’s aims, beliefs, knowledge, and actions of the mentors and mentees, findings which may undermine the goals of mentoring.