“Going Viral”: The Impact of Forced Crowdsourcing on Coaching Evaluation Procedures

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the role of forced crowdsourcing in coaching evaluation and assessment systems. In previous conceptualizations, crowdsourcing (Howe, 2006) is an organization-controlled process where the opinion of the general public is used for organizational good. However, in sport, and particularly coaching, this is not always the case. Further, we detail the role of viral content in increasing public pressure during the monitoring, enforcing, and ultimately changing of organizational actions. Examples of American coaching scandals in sport were used to illustrate these concepts. From Woody Hayes to Bob Knight to Mike Rice, coaching scandals have captivated the public at large and forced administrators to weigh the public opinion against their own organizational morals and best practices. Finally, we argue organizations are often driven to act due to forced crowdsourced opinions. In all, increased forced crowdsourcing has fundamentally changed the previous insular dynamics of sporting organizations through increased awareness of coaching practices and the promotion of accountability among administrators for the actions of the coaches in their program.