Level are not well defined according their aims, context of practice and contents (Mesquita et al., 2009). The sport governing bodies are also the institutions that can certify undergraduate and post graduates studies in coaching and sports sciences. Thus each higher education institution, if it is to offer such courses, must have the support and recognition of relevant sports federations (Mesquita, 2010). It is a situation which has resulted in coach education which is not systematic and is some cases not mandatory (Mesquita, 2010), whilst being characterised by some traditional, ad hoc features which limit maximal coach learning and development. Similarly, the curriculum continues to be centered on a classroom ased approach heavily taught along didactic lines where prescriptive teaching methods dominate and where supervised practice field is absent. It is also a syllabus heavily driven by sport-specific technical concerns, with social and philosophical considerations being largely absent (Mesquita, 2010). Most previous studies examining coach learning sources have employed inductive analysis from interview data (Abraham et al., 2006; Fleurance and Cotteaux, 1999; Irwin et al., 2004; Jones et al., 2004; Salmela, 1995;Coaches’ knowledge sourcesWright et al., 2007). Conversely, studies using extensive questionnaire samples, that could give a more representative portrait, are rare (Reade et al., 2008a; TimsonKatchis and North, 2008). Similarly, the current research agenda has focused on the analysis of elite (Abraham et al., 2006; Fleurence and Cotteaux, 1999; Gould et al., 1990; Irwin et al., 2004; Jones et al., 2003; 2004) and developmental sport coaches in terms of learning preferences or knowledge sources (Erickson et al., 2008; Lemyre et al., 2007; Wright et al., 2007), somewhat ignoring a sample across both domains from where comparisons could be drawn. Additionally, such a sample would include coaches who not only possess very different background influences but also a variety of learning preferences. PM01183 web Indeed, finding out the backgrounds of coaches, in terms of their considered learning preferences, can provide a richer and complete AZD4547 site understanding about the coaching process in general and how current coach education programs are perceived (Demers et al., 2006; Jones, 2006; Rupert Buschner, 1989). This would appear to be of particular relevance in a country like Portugal where the majority of coaches do not hold a higher educational degree (Almeida, 2006). Indeed, findings from previous studies indicate that the variable of educational background has a potentially powerful influence on knowledge and perception of coaching competence (Gilbert and Trudel, 2001; Irwin et al., 2004; Jones et al., 2002; 2003; 2004). Therefore, the general intention of this study was to provide a greater understanding of coaches’ preferences for how they learn their craft; taken from both a large sample and a new, unexplored context (i.e., Portugal). The main contribution of this study was to provide useful information not only to compare and contrast with qualitative work from other countries as Canada, United States and United of Kingdom but also to provide important guidelines to developing coach education in Portugal. The specific purpose of this study was to analyse Portuguese coaches’ perceptions of and preferences for learning sources as related to personal and professional background in order to answer two main questions: (1) What are the main lea.Level are not well defined according their aims, context of practice and contents (Mesquita et al., 2009). The sport governing bodies are also the institutions that can certify undergraduate and post graduates studies in coaching and sports sciences. Thus each higher education institution, if it is to offer such courses, must have the support and recognition of relevant sports federations (Mesquita, 2010). It is a situation which has resulted in coach education which is not systematic and is some cases not mandatory (Mesquita, 2010), whilst being characterised by some traditional, ad hoc features which limit maximal coach learning and development. Similarly, the curriculum continues to be centered on a classroom ased approach heavily taught along didactic lines where prescriptive teaching methods dominate and where supervised practice field is absent. It is also a syllabus heavily driven by sport-specific technical concerns, with social and philosophical considerations being largely absent (Mesquita, 2010). Most previous studies examining coach learning sources have employed inductive analysis from interview data (Abraham et al., 2006; Fleurance and Cotteaux, 1999; Irwin et al., 2004; Jones et al., 2004; Salmela, 1995;Coaches’ knowledge sourcesWright et al., 2007). Conversely, studies using extensive questionnaire samples, that could give a more representative portrait, are rare (Reade et al., 2008a; TimsonKatchis and North, 2008). Similarly, the current research agenda has focused on the analysis of elite (Abraham et al., 2006; Fleurence and Cotteaux, 1999; Gould et al., 1990; Irwin et al., 2004; Jones et al., 2003; 2004) and developmental sport coaches in terms of learning preferences or knowledge sources (Erickson et al., 2008; Lemyre et al., 2007; Wright et al., 2007), somewhat ignoring a sample across both domains from where comparisons could be drawn. Additionally, such a sample would include coaches who not only possess very different background influences but also a variety of learning preferences. Indeed, finding out the backgrounds of coaches, in terms of their considered learning preferences, can provide a richer and complete understanding about the coaching process in general and how current coach education programs are perceived (Demers et al., 2006; Jones, 2006; Rupert Buschner, 1989). This would appear to be of particular relevance in a country like Portugal where the majority of coaches do not hold a higher educational degree (Almeida, 2006). Indeed, findings from previous studies indicate that the variable of educational background has a potentially powerful influence on knowledge and perception of coaching competence (Gilbert and Trudel, 2001; Irwin et al., 2004; Jones et al., 2002; 2003; 2004). Therefore, the general intention of this study was to provide a greater understanding of coaches’ preferences for how they learn their craft; taken from both a large sample and a new, unexplored context (i.e., Portugal). The main contribution of this study was to provide useful information not only to compare and contrast with qualitative work from other countries as Canada, United States and United of Kingdom but also to provide important guidelines to developing coach education in Portugal. The specific purpose of this study was to analyse Portuguese coaches’ perceptions of and preferences for learning sources as related to personal and professional background in order to answer two main questions: (1) What are the main lea.