Barry, KatieTownsend, Robert C.Frawley, PatsieDalton, SarahWard, Debbie2026-09-222026-09-222026-09-10Barry, K., Townsend, R. C., Frawley, P., Dalton, S., & Ward, D. (2026). ‘He has been the worst coach, but he’s also the one that said “let’s give it a go”’: exploring the promise and potential of inclusive research in disability sport coaching. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676x.2026.27310992159-676Xhttps://hdl.handle.net/10289/18671This paper offers a novel methodological illustration of the fusion of Inclusive Research (IR) and Participatory Action Research (PAR) principles in disability sport coaching in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Using this hybrid methodology, we undertook semi-structured interviews with disabled people, community sport coaches and national coach developers to explore how ‘mainstream’ sports coach development systems can be more inclusive of disabled people. Guided by a Disability Advisory Group, and drawing on reflexive thematic analysis, the research highlighted the strong desire from athletes to participate in mainstream sport, alongside the desire by coaches and coach developers to provide more opportunities for disabled people. Yet, findings indicate that despite the potential for coach education to act as a mechanism for enhancing coaches’ knowledge of inclusion, gaps in support available for both coaches and national coach developers hinder the implementation of inclusive policy. The analysis further illustrated how systemic forms of ableism and structural barriers across mainstream sport, coach education and coaching practices can limit opportunities for inclusion. These findings demonstrate that achieving greater inclusion therefore requires addressing systemic barriers within sport coaching and fostering a culture that supports inclusive practices at all levels. In addition, this paper critically reflects on the participatory research practices employed, examining how these approaches shaped the research findings, and highlights the depth and significance of knowledge generated through such inclusive methods. These reflections offer valuable insights for future sport coaching research seeking to embed participatory and inclusive principles.enAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Journal Article10.1080/2159676x.2026.27310992159-67785201 Applied and Developmental Psychology42 Health Sciences4206 Public Health4207 Sports Science and Exercise52 Psychology4206 Public health4207 Sports science and exercise5201 Applied and developmental psychology4 Quality Education