Understanding Sports Coaching: The Social, Cultural and Pedagogical Foundations of Coaching Practice, Second Edition

Successful sports coaching is as dependent on utilising good teaching and social practices as it is about expertise in sport skills and tactics. Understanding Sports Coaching offers an innovative introduction to the theory and practice of sports coaching, highlighting the social, cultural and pedagogical concepts underpinning good coaching practice. Now in a fully revised and updated second edition, the book explores the complex interplay between coach, athlete, coaching programme and social context, and encourages coaches to develop an open and reflective approach to their own coaching practice. It addresses key issues such as: power and the coach-athlete relationship viewing the athlete as a learner instructional methods and reflection how our view of ability informs assessment coaching philosophy and ethics. Understanding Sports Coaching also includes a full range of practical exercises and case studies designed to encourage coaches to reflect critically upon their own coaching strategies, their interpersonal skills and upon important issues in contemporary sports coaching. This book is essential reading for all students of sports coaching and for any professional coach looking to develop their coaching expertise. This innovative introduction to the theory and practice of sports coaching emphasises the social context of training, developing and managing athletes.The book argues that although coaches commonly employ techniques such as feedback, reflection and a variety in instructional models and learning styles, most do so implicitly and without fully understanding the complex interplay between coach, player, content and social context. By defining 'learning' as a social practice rather than a simple transmission of facts, the book aims to deepen the coach's understanding of the coaching process, to help coaches systematically develop their programmes and to get the best out of their athletes. Understanding Sports Coaching is relevant for working with athletes of all abilities. It explores every aspect of coaching practice and includes practical exercises to encourage reflective practice and to highlight the issues faced by the successful sports coach. This book is essential reading for all students of sports coaching.Understanding Sports Coaching provides an innovative introduction to the theory and practice of sports coaching, highlighting the social, cultural and pedagogical concepts underpinning good practice including:· Athlete motivation· Viewing the athlete as a learner· Instructional methods· Coaches' content knowledge· ReflectionEach chapter includes practical exercises to highlight issues faced by the successful sports coach. This book is essential reading for students of sports coaching and for professional coaches looking to develop their skills.

Successful sports coaching is as dependent on utilizing good teaching and social practices as it is about expertize in sport skills and tactics. Understanding Sports Coaching offers an innovative introduction to the theory and practice of sports coaching, highlighting the social, cultural and pedagogical concepts underpinning good coaching practice. Now in a fully revised and updated second edition, the book explores the complex interplay between coach, athlete, coaching programme and social context, and encourages coaches to develop an open and reflective approach to their own coaching practice. It addresses key issues such as:

• 
  
• power and the coach-athlete relationship
• 
  
• viewing the athlete as a learner
• 
  
• instructional methods and reflection
• 
  
• how our view of ability informs assessment
• 
  
• coaching philosophy and ethics.

Understanding Sports Coaching also includes a full range of practical exercises and case studies designed to encourage coaches to reflect critically upon their own coaching strategies, their interpersonal skills and upon important issues in contemporary sports coaching. This book is essential reading for all students of sports coaching and for any professional coach looking to develop their coaching expertise.

Successful sports coaching is as dependent on utilizing good teaching and social practices as it is about expertise in sport skills and tactics. Understanding Sports Coaching offers an innovative introduction to the theory and practice of sports coaching, highlighting the social, cultural and pedagogical concepts underpinning good coaching practice. Now in a fully revised and updated new edition, the book explores the complex interplay between coach, athlete, coaching program and social context, and encourages coaches to develop an open and reflective approach to their own coaching practice. It addresses key issues such as: Power and the coach-athlete relationship; viewing the athlete as a learner; instructional methods and reflection; how our view of ability informs assessment; and, coaching philosophy and ethics. Understanding Sports Coaching also includes a full range of practical exercises and case studies designed to encourage coaches to reflect critically upon their own coaching strategies, their interpersonal skills and upon important issues in contemporary sports coaching. This book is essential reading for all students of sports coaching and for any professional coach looking to develop their coaching expertise BOOK COVER......Page 1 TITLE......Page 4 COPYRIGHT......Page 5 CONTENTS......Page 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 12 INTRODUCTION......Page 14 PART ONE THE COACH......Page 28 CHAPTER 1 REFLECTION......Page 30 CHAPTER 2 INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS AND PEDAGOGICAL STRATEGIES......Page 43 CHAPTER 3 QUALITY IN COACHING......Page 59 CHAPTER 4 DEVELOPING A COACHING PHILOSOPHY......Page 68 PART TWO THE ATHLETES......Page 78 CHAPTER 5 LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT......Page 80 CHAPTER 6 ‘DEVELOPING’ ATHLETES......Page 98 CHAPTER 7 UNDERSTANDING ATHLETES’ IDENTITIES......Page 106 PART THREE COACHING CONTENT......Page 126 CHAPTER 8 THE DISCOURSES OF COACHING......Page 128 CHAPTER 9 EXAMINING COACHES’ CONTENT KNOWLEDGE......Page 139 CHAPTER 10 ASSESSMENT AND ABILITY IN COACHING......Page 148 PART FOUR COACHING CONTEXT......Page 160 CHAPTER 11 COACHING ETHICS......Page 162 CHAPTER 12 THEORY, PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONALISM IN COACHING......Page 174 CHAPTER 13 POWER AND THE COACH–ATHLETE RELATIONSHIP......Page 188 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 206 INDEX......Page 227