Marinho, D.A.Barbosa, Tiago M.Lopes, Vitor P.Forte, PedroToubekis, Argyris G.Morais, J.E.2020-09-042020-09-042020Marinho, D.A.; Barbosa, Tiago M.; Lopes, Vitor P.; Forte, Pedro; Toubekis, Argyris G.; Morais, J.E. (2020). The influence of the coaches’ demographics on young swimmers’ performance and technical determinants. Frontiers in Psychology. ISSN 1664-1078. 11, p. 1-101664-1078http://hdl.handle.net/10198/22701The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between the coaches’ demographics (academic degree and/or coaching level and/or coaching experience) and young swimmers’ performance and technical ability. The sample was composed by 151 young swimmers (75 boys and 76 girls: 13.02 1.19 years old, 49.97 8.77 kg of body mass, 1.60 0.08 m of height, 1.66 0.09 m of arm span), from seven different clubs. Seven coaches (one per club) were responsible for the training monitoring. Performance and a set of biomechanical variables related to swim technique and efficiency were assessed. The swimmers’ performance was enhanced according to the increase in the coaches’ academic degree (1: 75.51 10.02 s; 2: 74.55 9.56 s; 3: 73.62 7.64 s), coaching level (1: 76.79 11.27 s; 2: 75.06 9.31 s; 3: 73.65 8.43 s), and training experience ( 5-y training experience: 75.44 9.57 s; >5- y training experience: 74.60 9.54 s). Hierarchical linear modeling retained all coaches’ demographics characteristics as main predictors (being the academic degree the highest: estimate = -1.51, 95% confidence interval = -0.94 to -2.08, p = 0.014). Hence, it seems that an increase in the demographics of the coaches appears to provide them with a training perspective more directed to the efficiency of swimming. This also led to a higher performance enhancementengBiomechanicsEfficiencyTalent identificationYouthSwimmingjournal article10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01968