Randomized Study Shows Coach Beyond Improves Student-Athlete Experiences

LiFEsports recently released preliminary findings from a randomized study examining the impact of Coach Beyond trainings and the Life & Leadership Through Sport student-athlete curriculum. Conducted in Fall 2025, the study is among the most rigorous evaluations of Coach Beyond to date and offers early evidence that investing in coach education can positively influence student-athlete experiences.

Using a randomized design, researchers compared outcomes among coaches and student-athletes who participated in Coach Beyond programming with those who did not.

“For years, we’ve heard coaches tell us they want to support student-athletes beyond sport performance, but there has been limited evidence demonstrating how coach education that goes beyond the X’s and O’s translates into student-athlete experiences,” says Dr. Samantha Bates, LiFEsports Director of Research & Coach Beyond. “What excites me most about these findings is that we’re beginning to see evidence that when coaches receive intentional training and support, student-athletes report more positive experiences in sport. This study moves the conversation from whether coach education matters to how we can continue scaling evidence-based training that fosters belonging, well-being, leadership, and life skill development.”

Among the preliminary findings, researchers observed promising differences among student-athletes connected to Coach Beyond-trained coaches. Student-athletes reported higher levels of enjoyment, belonging and overall satisfaction with their sport experiences. Coaches who participated in training also demonstrated growth in practices designed to support the holistic development of student-athletes, reinforcing Coach Beyond’s commitment to going beyond the X’s and O’s.

As Coach Beyond continues to expand across Ohio and nationally, the study provides important evidence that coach education can strengthen youth sport environments and promote positive youth development outcomes. While preliminary, these results represent an important step in understanding how coach training influences coach behaviors, team culture, and student-athlete well-being over time.

Read the research brief here: Copy of 2026 Randomized Study of Coach Beyond

To hear from coaches and student-athletes about the impact, watch this video.