Professional Profile of Staff in a Community-Based Adapted Sport Programme: Sociodemographic Characteristics, Motivation, and Training Needs

Community-based adapted sport programmes play an important role in promoting social inclusion, participation, and well-being among people with intellectual disabilities. However, limited attention has been paid to the professional profile of the staff responsible for delivering these programmes. This study aimed to identify the professional profile of staff involved in the More Than Just Tennis programme by examining their sociodemographic characteristics, motivation towards programme involvement, and professional development requirements. A qualitative single-case study was conducted involving 19 staff members from six Spanish regions. All 19 participants provided sociodemographic data; the qualitative analytical dataset comprised 12 fully transcribed and coded interview sessions involving 13 participants. Data were analysed through deductive–inductive thematic coding, including frequency and code co-occurrence analyses. The findings show that participants reported high levels of commitment, satisfaction, and intention to remain involved in the programme. Compared with professional pathways commonly described in the literature on competitive adapted sport and Paralympic contexts, the MTJT professionals in this study more frequently appeared to enter the sport domain from disability-support and educational backgrounds. Within the MTJT case, the study identifies a distinctive professional profile and the need for development pathways combining expertise in intellectual disability support, adapted physical activity, and sport pedagogy.