The Emergence of Masters Sport and the Rising Importance of Coaches

This introductory chapter overviews the growth of Masters Sport and the implications for coaching knowledge and practice. It discusses: (a) who Masters athletes are, the rise of Masters participation and the nature of this current sport context; (b) the empirical research on Masters Sport and where coaching fits within the research on older adult sportspersons; and (c) the growing prominence and acknowledgment of coaches in Masters Sport. Finally, a reputable coach education director and sport programmer tenders his perspective, followed by closing considerations intended to launch the reader forward into the book.