The Journal of Applied Sport Psychology recently published the research article, “Body confident coaching: a pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating the acceptability of a web-based body image intervention for coaches of adolescent girls.” The article is authored by Nicole M. LaVoi, PhD, senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, Tucker Center Assistant Director for Research & Programming Courtney Boucher, PhD, research assistant and School of Kinesiology doctoral student Anna Goorevich, and Tucker Center research associate alumna Hannah Silva-Breen, MA, along with several others.

This study aimed to evaluate a new web-based program called “Body Confident Coaching” (BCC) designed to help coaches address body image concerns among adolescent girls in sports. The program consisted of five 20-minute modules and was found to be easy to follow, useful, and enjoyable by coaches. Preliminary results showed that coaches who completed the program reported higher self-confidence in body image, lower levels of fat phobia, and less gender essentialist beliefs compared to coaches who did not participate in the program.