Power and knowledge in a coach mentoring program

In order to broaden our understanding of beginner (mentee)coach learning, we must consider how coach education,in particular prescribed mentoring programs may come toinfluence what is and what is not taken up by menteecoaches. In this article, narrative ethnography is used toexplore six beginner (mentee) coaches’ learning experiencesin a prescribed mentoring program within a coach educationpathway. A Foucauldian perspective, specifically theconcept of panopticism is used to analyse the beginnercoaches’ experiences. Special attention is paid to the systemsof oppression that beginner coaches may be subjectedto along with the complex power relationships that mayexist between mentor and mentee coaches in prescribedmentoring programs. This article illustrates how within thementor-mentee coach relationship, subordination of beginnercoaches occurs. In particular, beginner coaches are subtlydisciplined and controlled so their coaching practicesand ideas align with mentors and the culturally acceptedcoaching model