Implementação do modelo Play & Stay em jovens tenistas portugueses: a perspetiva dos treinadores

Abstract

The purpose of the following research is to understand the implementation of the Play & Stay model in tennis coaching in Portugal, from the perspective of coaches who were involved in this process. The study investigated how tennis was taught prior to the model's implementation, analysed the evolution of pedagogical approaches, identified the challenges of its implementation, and explored coaches' interpretations of assessment and competition within the Play & Stay framework. A qualitative, exploratory approach grounded in the interpretative paradigm was adopted. Six Portuguese coaches were selected using convenience sampling, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews and examined through thematic analysis. The results show that the implementation of Play & Stay in Portugal established a gradual process of pedagogical transformation, characterised by the adaptation of equipment, teaching methodologies and competition to the athletes' characteristics. The testimonies reveal a transition from coach and technique centred practices to participant and game-based approaches, in which technique is developed in realistic contexts. They also highlight that the implementation of the model depends above all on coaches' ability to put its pedagogical principles into practice, with assessment taking on a continuous and contextualised nature and competition playing a pedagogical role in the players' development. It is concluded that the implementation of Play & Stay in Portugal resulted from a transformation of pedagogical practices, the realisation of which depends on the consistent interpretation and application of its principles in tennis training for children and young people. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the model's implementation in a national context and reinforces the importance of pedagogical training for coaches.