Factors in the use of trainer services in high school athletic club activities: results of a nationwide survey

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with the use of trainer services in Japanese high school athletic clubs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the club activity coaches from 5007 high schools in Japan. The survey items included the status of trainer service use and characteristics of the school (area, establishment, and number of students), club (sport, number of athletes, sex of athletes, status of activity, aim), and coach (sex, age, teaching license, teaching carrier, history of the athletic club they belonged to, and history of trainer use). A cross-tabulation analysis was conducted, and odds ratios were calculated for each characteristic by trainer service use adjusted for other factors. A total of 6045 coaches completed to the survey. The factors associated with more trainer service use were those with team sports, especially rugby; those with a large number of athletes; those with higher goals (i.e. regional vs national championship); and, those with coaches with a history of trainer service use.