A ‘coach’ is more than just somebody who leads in the organisation and delivery of structured sport. The role of a coach goes beyond leadership, requiring an understanding of theories of teaching and learning. To become a coach you must know how people learn.
Becoming a Sports Coach aims to introduce the multi-dimensional and inter-locking knowledge bases that any aspiring coach will need to develop, and that any established coach needs to master in order to improve their professional practice. While traditional coach education pathways have focused on what to coach, this book argues that understanding how knowledge can be communicated to learners is just as important. Asking why we coach, through critical reflection and self-knowledge, is also an essential part of the process of becoming a sports coach. The book explores three types of knowledge – content knowledge, pedagogic knowledge and self-knowledge – challenging the reader to reflect on their own coaching experiences and to develop a personal philosophy of coaching. It explores key pedagogic themes in contemporary coaching studies, such as humanistic coaching, inclusive practice, coaching for understanding, and the athlete-coach relationship. Real case studies are used to illuminate the ways – transferrable across sports - in which coaches can apply theory to practice and ultimately enhance their work.
With contributions from leading coaching researchers and practitioners, combining practical guidance with important theoretical insights, this book will help any coaching student or developing professional to better understand the journey to becoming an effective sports coach.
Introduction (James Wallis) Section 1: ‘Why’ you coach the way you do 1. Learning to learn; The coach as a reflective practitioner (Brendan Cropley, Andy Miles and Toby Nichols) 2. Philosophy of practice and practice conflict: coaching dilemmas and the performance spectrum (Cathy Devine, Hamish Telfer and Zoe Knowles) 3. Moral issues in sport coaching (Andrew Theodoulides) 4. The political context for coaching (Marc Keech) Section 2: ‘How’ to add value to your coaching 5. Inclusive practice in sport coaching (Sid Hayes and Tracy Killingley) 6. Humanistic coaching (Simon Walters and Lynn Kidman) 7. Coaching for understanding (Steve Mitchell and Adriano de Souza) 8. Toward Quality not Quantity in Sport Motivation (Jean Whitehead and Joan Duda) 9. Coach athlete relationship: a case study of women’s elite tennis (Flo Pietzsch and Heather Watson) Section 3: ‘What’ to coach – building on technical knowledge 10. Integrating and applying knowledge of sport science – ‘Pulling it all together’ through a case study of British Cycling (Gary Brickley) 11. Embedding knowledge of sport psychology: Case studies within professional cricket (James Beale, Bill Filby and James Wallis) 12. A values-based approach to coaching within sport for development programmes (John Lambert) 13. Identifying and developing elite performers: some key considerations from a coach’s perspective (Jim Lawlor and John Lambert) Plenary, concluding thoughts and future directions (James Wallis and John Lambert)
Biography
James Wallis is a Principal Lecturer in Sport Coaching and Physical Education at the University of Brighton, UK, where he is course leader of the BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching programme. He has extensive applied experience in coaching and coach education in both performance and sport for development contexts. He is currently contributing to coach education in professional cricket
John Lambert is a Principal Lecturer in Sport Coaching and Physical Education at the School of Sport and Service Management, University of Brighton, UK. He is a UEFA A licence football coach and works in the match analysis and talent identification department of a Premier League football club. He has been engaged in coaching and coach education for many years, including tutoring FA courses. John is Visiting Lecturer at the German Sport University, Cologne, and has worked on a major international sport for development project for over ten years. He is co-editor of Values in Youth Sport and Physical Education (Routledge, 2014)
