"Just rollin'" : coaches' experience of NCAA Division III National Championship cross country teams

The purpose of this study was to examine the experience of NCAA Division III National Championship cross country teams from the coaches' perspective. A deeper understanding of winning teams and coaches, particularly collegiate cross country teams, was sought. Six coaches participated in extensial-phenomenological interviews in order to generate thorough descriptions of their chamionship teams. Four major themes emerged from the coaches' experience of their National Championship teams, including attitude, cohesion, talent, and development. These major themes, their respective subthemes, and examples of the participants' quotes, which revealed these themes, are described. Based on the results, recommendations for coahes, sport psychology consultants, and researchers are provided.