New Research: What Changes When Coaches Are Trained

We’re proud to share the release of Winning Beyond the Game, the Million Coaches Challenge Implementation Study—an independent, multiyear research effort conducted by the American Institutes for Research.

The core finding: when coaches are trained, things change. For coaches, for kids, and for whether young people stay in sport at all. The data comes from 13,800+ coaches across 18 national partner organizations, and it makes a pretty compelling case for why coaching quality deserves more attention than it gets.

This report reflects not just outcomes, but the collective effort behind them.

Over four years, MCC Partners trained more than 1.17 million coaches and helped build a growing body of evidence around what quality coaching looks like in practice. Drawing on partner interviews, training materials, and survey responses, the study shows:

• 88% of coaches said training made them a better coach
• 66% observed more joy among athletes
• 72% believed athletes were more likely to stay in sport

Importantly, the findings reinforce something Partners have seen firsthand: training works best when it’s supported by strong systems—ongoing mentorship, peer learning, and organizations that prioritize youth development.

This report is a milestone—but also a starting point for continuing to build a stronger, more supportive coaching ecosystem. Read the full report at https://www.millioncoaches.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-MCC-Implementation-Study-Report.pdf.