The United States Center for Coaching Excellence (USCCE) is excited to announce the 2021 (Third Annual) USCCE Research Grant Program.  Grant awards will range from $1,000 to $3,000 and the primary purpose of the grant program is to provide support for researchers investigating best practices in coaching education and coach development programs.  The outcome would be to provide coach educators and coach developers evidence-based practice for developing sport coaches. 

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Sample projects eligible for funding might include, but are not limited to:

• Experimental designs evaluating the best practices in training sport coaches

• Qualitative study of coach educators on effective practices implemented in coach training programs

• Ethnographic exploration of an effective coaching education program

• Examining the benefits and effectiveness of NCACE Accredited programs compared to non-accredited programs

 

Eligibility

• Any person who has been a professional or organizational member of the USCCE for two years is eligible  (Note: USCCE membership of at least one investigator must be current at the time of the grant application submission and for the duration of the grant if awarded. )

• The primary recipient of a USCCE research grant may only receive funding once every 3 years.

 

Application Procedure for 2021
Applications must be received no later than February 1, 2021. 

Applications must include the following components:

1.  Investigator information

2. Curriculum Vitae for lead investigator (vitae must not exceed three single-spaced pages submitted as a .pdf file and should include academic degrees, positions held, awards, publications, presentations, and other information relevant to the current project.) 

3. Project Title & Abstract (2000 characters or less)

4. Specific Aims, Background and Significance/Importance, Research Design, Method, Data Analysis,  and corresponding references (this should not exceed 3 single-spaced pages, excluding references and be uploaded as a .pdf file)

5. Approval for the Use of Human Subjects by an Institutional Review Board (or plan for approval prior to start of project) 

6. Budget (Awards will be paid to the lead investigator’s department or organization/company, if one exists, and can cover costs such as equipment, hourly assistance, materials, incentives, and supplies.  Budgets may not include indirect costs, salaries for the investigator(s), or travel to present the results.)

7. Budget justification 

8. Timeline for Completion

Proposals should be submitted via a Google Form.  Click here to access the form.

 

If you have questions about the research grant program, please contact the Accreditation Chair at accreditation@USCoachExcellence.org

Award Obligations

• The USCCE Membership must be maintained and current during the year of the award.

• Recipients must submit a budget statement and summary of progress of 500 words or less within 3 months after the end of the funding period (i.e., 1 year from receipt of grant monies). If the grant is not managed through an organizational grants office (e.g., college/university grants office), copies of receipts must be provided along with the final budget statement.

• Unused funds will be resubmitted to the USCCE.

• An abstract of the completed work will be submitted for consideration at the first eligible North American Coach Development Summit that follows the completion of the grant.  If accepted, the NACDS registration fee will be waived for the principal investigator.  

• Any publication(s) resulting from the grant should acknowledge funding from the USCCE.

 

Previous Award Winners

• 2019 - Megan Babkes Stellino and Zachary McCarver, University of Northern Colorado.  Proposal - Motivating Morality: Examining the Effect of an Autonomy-Supportive Coach Training Program on Youth Ice Hockey Players’ Moral Behavior

• 2020 - Jody Langdon and Diane Benish, Georgia Southern University.  Proposal - Utilizing Motivational Theory to Assess How Coach Developers Shape the Behaviors of Coaches