A Coach-Delivered Dating Violence Prevention Program: Coach Perspectives on Implementation.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sports Science
• Adolescent Development

Background:

• Coaching Boys into Men (CBIM) is an evidence-based program for violence prevention.
• Its effectiveness is proven in clinical trials, but community implementation is underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore facilitators and barriers of effective CBIM implementation in community settings.
• To understand coaches' experiences with CBIM in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive content analysis of interviews with 22 head coaches who implemented CBIM.
• Coaches discussed program delivery, facilitators, barriers, and overall implementation experiences.

Main Results:

• Key facilitators included support from advocates, athletic directors, assistant coaches, players, and flexible curriculum integration.
• Coaches were motivated by observed improvements in athletes' bystander intervention and attitudes towards women and girls.
• Main barriers were time constraints for discussions and the need for curriculum updates.

Conclusions:

• Community implementation of CBIM is feasible with appropriate support and strategies to address barriers.
• Coaches' confidence and sustained engagement are crucial for successful violence prevention through sports.
• Positive athlete outcomes reinforce coaches' roles in preventing community-wide violence.