Coaching Practices Research Articles

Fontes de Conhecimentos dos Treinadores Paranaenses de Basquetebol

La formación de los entrenadores debe ocurrir por diferentes vías de conocimiento, sin embargo, algunas fuentes son más significativas que otras, siendo fundamental identificar cuáles son las principales fuentes de conocimiento que orientan la estructuración del proceso de entrenamiento. Nuestro estudio intenta identificar las fuentes de conocimientos determinantes en la estructuración del proceso de entrenamiento de entrenadores paranaenses de baloncesto, considerando la titulación académica, el nivel competitivo y el tiempo de experiencia profesional. Para ello, se realizó un estudio descriptivo con 20 entrenadores de baloncesto del estado de Paraná. En la recolección de datos se utilizó el instrumento propuesto por Feu et al (2012) para analizar las procedencias de las fuentes de conocimiento de los entrenadores en tres dimensiones: Formación Académica, Experiencia de Atleta y la Experiencia Profesional. En el análisis de los datos se utilizó la estadística descriptiva (media, desviación típica) e inferencial (prueba H de Kruskal Wallis), además de una correlación de Spearman, realizada a través del software SPSS 23.0 a nivel de significancia de p≤ 0,05. La mayoría de los investigados adopta las fuentes de conocimientos procedentes de la formación académica (8.34 ± 1.25) y experiencia profesional (7.63 ± 1.87) en la construcción del proceso de entrenamiento, siendo, cuanto mayor la titulación académica del entrenador, menor es la utilización de conocimientos de la experiencia profesional. A pesar de las limitaciones del estudio, las evidencias encontradas permiten concluir que las fuentes de conocimientos procedentes de la formación académica son las más utilizadas para el ejercicio profesional de los entrenadores de baloncesto de Paraná.
 
 Abstract: The training of trainers must occur through different sources of knowledge; however some sources are more significant than others, in this perspective it is fundamental to identify which are the main sources of knowledge that guide the structuring of the training process. Our study had as objective to identify the sources of determinant knowledge in the structuring of the training process of basketball coaches of Paraná, considering the academic degree, the competitive level and the time of professional experience. For this, a descriptive study was carried out with 20 basketball coaches from the state of Paraná. In the data collection, the instrument proposed by Feu et al (2012) was used to analyze the sources of knowledge of the trainers in three dimensions: Academic Formation, Athlete Experience and Professional Experience. Data were analyzed using inferential descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) and inference (Kruskal Wallis H test), as well as a Spearman correlation, performed using SPSS 23.0 software at a significance level of p≤0.05 . The majority of those investigated adopt the sources of knowledge from the academic training (8.34 ± 1.25) and professional experience (7.63 ± 1.87) in the construction of the training process, the higher the academic qualification of the coach, the lower is the use of knowledge professional experience. Despite the limitations of the study, the evidences found allow us to conclude that the sources of knowledge from the academic training are the most commonly used for the professional practice of the basketball coaches of Paraná.
 Resumo: A formação dos treinadores deve ocorrer por diferentes vias de conhecimento, no entanto algumas fontes são mais significativas do que outras, nesta perspectiva é fundamental identificar quais são as principais fontes de conhecimento que norteiam a estruturação do processo de treino. Nosso estudo teve como objetivo identificar as fontes de conhecimentos determinantes na estruturação do processo de treino de treinadores paranaenses de basquetebol, considerando a titulação acadêmica, o nível competitivo e o tempo de experiência profissional. Para tanto, realizou-se um estudo descritivo com 20 treinadores de basquetebol do estado do Paraná. Na coleta de dados utilizou-se o instrumento proposto por Feu et al (2012) para analisar as procedências das fontes de conhecimento dos treinadores em três dimensões: Formação Acadêmica, Experiência de Atleta e a Experiência Profissional. Na análise dos dados utilizou-se da estatística descritiva inferencial (média, desvio padrão) e inferência ( prova H de Kruskal Wallis), além de uma correlação de Spearman, realizada através do software SPSS 23.0 em nível de significância de p≤ 0,05. A maioria dos treinadores investigados adota as fontes de conhecimentos procedentes da formação acadêmica (8.34±1.25) e experiência profissional (7.63±1.87) na construção do processo de treino, sendo, quanto maior a titulação acadêmica do treinador, menor é a utilização de conhecimentos da experiência profissional. Apesar das limitações do estudo, as evidências encontradas permitem concluir que as fontes de conhecimentos procedentes da formação acadêmica são as mais utilizadas para o exercício profissional dos treinadores de basquetebol do Paraná.

Fitting in and getting fit: a post-structuralist analysis of athletes’ experiences of less disciplinary coaching practices

ABSTRACT Over the last two decades a number of coaching researchers have used post-structuralism to show how strict training protocols can limit athletes’ performances and development. To counter problematic effects from highly disciplinary practices, Denison and colleagues have called for coach developers to assist coaches to implement less disciplinary coaching practices. Although the head coach is central in this work, understanding how athletes experience less disciplinary coaching practices is critical. Towards this end, we interviewed 14 university endurance runners after the first author worked collaboratively with their head coach to help him learn how to develop and implement a number of practices that were less informed by discipline’s techniques and instruments. Despite making these changes, our findings revealed that the ongoing presence of a range of normalising and objectifying processes tied to dominant understandings of effective coaching and athlete development continued to exert their influence on the athletes. In this respect, designing and implementing less disciplinary coaching practices was not enough to challenge the long-standing legacy of discipline within endurance running. This led us to conclude that undoing the effects of discipline requires a much more concerted pedagogical effort from coaches, and as such, greater support and collaboration from coach developers.

Keeping It Collaborative: Differentiating Coaching Practices for Beginning Teachers

Using practices from instructional coaching, leaders can assist beginning teachers in developing the knowledge, skills, and efficacy they need.

The Language of Executive Coaching: A Developmental Framework

Although the practice of executive coaching has received sustained attention in literature, no theoretical framework exists to guide the language of conversations which aims to improve executive pe...

PRESENT AND FUTURE OF COACH DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

The field of sport coach development has changed considerably in the last decades and everything indicates that, in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world (VUCA world), many other changes will take place. It seems increasingly likely that ways will have to be found to harmonize on-the-job learning with the formal coach education programs from which qualifications are derived. In an attempt to analyze the present and to address some directions for the future of sport coach development research and practice, this insight paper presents the summary of a series of conversations with one of the researchers who has greatly influenced the development of sport coaches over the past 30 years, Professor Pierre Trudel.

Introduction to Feature Series: Development of Youth Athletes

Many youth coaches may not have training in pedagogy or coaching methodologies to guide their practice activities and long-term planning for development within sport. This feature series will provide evidence-based practice for youth coaches, physical education instructors, and parents to aid in the development of young athletes. The need for organized, programmed, science- and research-based methods of development for adequate development is growing. The premise of this project is to provide the reading audience with 1) a foundation of knowledge for long term developmental for young athletes, 2) goals and applications for youth training programs, and 3) tips and ideas for improved daily practice activities.

선수중심코칭의 개념과 실제에 대한 탐색

본 연구의 목적은 바람직한 스포츠지도자가 갖춰야 코칭철학 개념화를 위한 한 가지 대안으로 선수중심코칭의 개념과 실제에 대한 탐색에 있다. 이를 위해 선수중심코칭의 철학적 배경, 목적, 주요 특징을 분석하였으며, 실천사례를 통해 선수중심코칭의 코칭 및 제도에 대한 적용가능성을 검토하였다. 스포츠코칭 담론은 지도자의 개인적 경험에 의존하는 경험적 코칭에서 과학적 지식을 적용하는 과학적 코칭으로 전환되었으며, 최근에는 선수의 전인적 성장에 초점을 맞추는 교육적 담론이 부각되고 있다. 교육적 담론의 측면에서 선수중심코칭은 스포츠의 탁월성을 추구하면서 지도자의 권한을 선수에게 이양하여 선수의 학습과 성장에 목적으로 한다. 선수중심코칭에서 지도자는 교육자이자 선수의 복지와 건강을 코칭의 우선순위에 두어 질문과 반성, 피드백과 긍정적 상호작용을 주요 지도방식으로 적용하며 이에 대한 연구가 꾸준히 진행되고 있다. 유럽코칭체계에서도 선수중심코칭을 핵심 철학으로 삼아 지도자 자격제도 및 교육에 활용하고 있다. 따라서 국내에서도 선수중심코칭 개념의 세련화와 적용에 대한 추가적인 연구를 통해 스포츠교육학에서 코치교육의 중요한 이론적 근거를 마련하고 체육지도자 자격제도 개선에 활용할 필요가 있다.

Swedish elite athletics coaches’ professional development in practices of organized coaches’ meetings

ABSTRACT In this paper, we investigate how elite coaches reflect on their practice and interact with each other, as part of their informal professional development. We use observations of 14 coach meetings, over a period of two years, where coaches came together to share their experiences of coaching elite athletics, and to discuss ways for continuous professional development. Through an action research approach, data collected included notes and audio-recorded conversations. The theory of practice architectures was employed as a theoretical tool to frame the analysis of the data in order to understand the meeting practices and how these practices were enabled and constrained. The research revealed how conversations led to awareness, which became turning points for new practices. Specifically, the coaches became aware of the importance of belonging to a community, their lack of knowledge and understanding of inequality, and the complexity of coaching. The meetings, as forums for dialogic practice, were enabled by open-minded collaboration, a willingness to share experiences, and a mutual understanding of the coaching context, but they were also constrained by the structures of coaches’ athletics clubs and federations, that do not fully support coaches’ meetings as an informal educational practice for professional development.

A Newcomer Socialization Perspective on the Proliferation of Unethical Conduct in Organizations: The Influences of Peer Coaching Practices and Newcomers’ Goal Orientations

Drawing on conservation of resources theory, we contribute to the behavioral ethics literature by examining how and why organizational socialization processes can affect newcomers’ adoption of unethical behaviors. Specifically, we contend that quality peer coaching (i.e., providing newcomers with job-related guidance and social support) provides newcomers with enhanced self-resources that diminishes emotional exhaustion and thus indirectly reduces newcomer unethical conduct. Conversely, peer coach unethical conduct (i.e., violating ethical norms) increases newcomers’ emotional exhaustion, and thus indirectly increases newcomers’ own unethical acts. Our research also identifies newcomers’ goal orientations as important individual differences that moderate the proposed mediation effects. Newcomers with high mastery orientations respond to high emotional exhaustion by harnessing more resources and identifying new work strategies, thereby engaging in less unethical conduct. Conversely, newcomers with high performance orientations give into emotional exhaustion and engage in unethical conduct as a way of outperforming others while conserving resources. We tested our theoretical model using a sample of peer coaches and newcomers from the Real Estate industry, using objective reporting of peer coaches’ and newcomers’ unethical conduct over a nine-month period.

The role of courage in the development and practice of coaches

This study seeks to understand the role that courage plays in the development and practice of coaches. Courage is mentioned frequently in the coaching literature, but this research is the first study to investigate its significance. Within the precepts of constructivist grounded theory, which is appropriate for the investigation of under-represented topics, the perspectives of 12 coaches of varying levels of experience revealed that courage is required throughout a coaching career. It was found that courage enables coaches to deliver their best work and is integral to an ongoing cycle of increasing self-awareness and professional development.

Exploring educational psychologists’ views and experiences of coaching: A mixed methods study

Coaching psychology is an emerging sub-discipline of coaching and represents a unique approach to practice in educational psychology. This research sought to explore educational psychologists’ (EPs) views and experiences of coaching in practice.Phase 1 of the research obtained EPs’ views of coaching whilst Phase 2 explored the experiences of EPs who use it in practice. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected, through the use of online questionnaires in Phase 1 (N=119) and semi-structured individual interviews in Phase 2 (N=10). Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive and frequency statistics, Chi-square analysis, independent t-tests and Tukey HSD tests, whilst the qualitative data was subject to a mixture of content and thematic analyses.The findings of this research suggest that there is ambiguity in both the understanding and practice of coaching. However, 81 per cent of participants believe that it fits with the practice of educational psychology, whilst 93 per cent believe that it will have a future in educational psychology. A number of barriers to practice were identified, including a lack of professional confidence and the type of service in which EPs work. Consideration is given to the implications of this research for the future practice of EPs, and suggestions for future, evidence-based research are presented.

Qualitätsentwicklung in der Sportpsychologie – 50 Jahre im Dienste des Schweizer Sports

Sport psychology in Switzerland looks back on a history of over 50 years. Founded in 1969 as a loose working group, the Swiss Association for Sport Psychology SASP became an association in 1987. The focus was on supporting athletes in their performance, but also on questions of rehabilitation and health sport. Reports about dubious practices of self-proclaimed mental coaches brought the question of high-quality psychological counselling into focus. An adaptation of Donabedian’s quality management model (1966) and the analysis of the required competences led to the development of a curriculum and in 2005 to the creation of the specialist title for sport psychology by the FSP. Continuing education courses are offered by the Universities of Bern and Lausanne. Graduates are qualified to work independently and competently in sport psychology with individuals and groups in the field of sport and physical activity. Today, sport psychologists perform numerous tasks in the support system of Swiss sport. With its broad range of services in a wide variety of sport areas, sport psychology will continue to be able to generate added value for practitioners and make an important contr

ALENT IDENTIFICATION PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES OF COACHES: IN IDENTIFYING TALENTED YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYERS

ʹʹYou reap what you sowʹʹ. The foundation of future success of elite football players that represent the country football lies at grass root level through proper talent identification and development process. This should be strongly synchronized. The aim of this paper was to examine the current talent identification practices of Ethiopian youth sports academy football coaches and their main challenges while implementing the identification process. To investigate the problem, mixed research design was employed. In-depth interview as well as a five point Likert item questions were used as a means to obtain valid and reliable data among 76 study participants aged ranged between 25 to 65 (± 5) using purposive and snowball sampling method. The interview was analysed qualitatively while SPSS version 17 software was applied as a statistical tool for the analysis of quantitative data. Results obtained from the triangulated data indicated that coaches identify talented young football players based on their overall performance at an arranged trail game /competition/ situation. Great attention was given to technical and tactical skills. Few efforts have been carried out to implement on the potential predictors of talent, like anthropometric, physiological, psychological and sociological predictors but it had not purely a scientific basis. This study also revealed that coaches’ problems were various, but broadly categorized in four pillars as technical, economical, administrative and sociocultural. It is there for concluded that based on its responsibility and mission, the sport academy should give due attention to the magnitude of problems in discussing the problem of the coaches with higher institution professionals and other stakeholders, besides to this, talent identification process and tasks should never be left to the coaches alone, rather talent scouts should be invited and participated actively for a better result. Key Words: Talent Scout, Talent, Talent Identification, Youth, Sport Academy

Augmenting Coaching Practice through digital methods

Augmenting Coaching Practice through digital methods

Sprinting and hamstring strain injury: Beliefs and practices of professional physical performance coaches in Australian football

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to establish beliefs and practices of physical performance coaches regarding sprinting and Hamstring Strain Injury (HSI) in Australian Rules football. DesignsDelphi-validated questionnaire. SettingOnline. ParticipantsEighteen high-performance managers of the Australian Football League. Main outcome measuresDescriptive statistics were collected to establish experience; central themes were established for the analyses of the beliefs and practices. ResultsNine (50%) physical performance coaches responded to an invitation to complete the questionnaire. Participants held an undergraduate degree and had 9.2 ± 4.3 years of experience. Accelerations (n = 9), maximum speed sprints (n = 9) and running with hip flexion (n = 7) were the most common activities associated with HSI. Coaches believed sprinting, eccentric strength training and proper periodisation were effective strategies to reduce HSI risk. There’s a disparity between beliefs and practices when using GPS to monitor sprinting, however, all coaches reported regular exposure to sprint training across both pre and in-season. Overstriding (n = 9) and pelvic instability (n = 6) were identified as key flaws in running mechanics. ConclusionsThis information can be used to improve training strategies, whilst these findings indicate further investigations into sprint training and running mechanics for HSI risk reduction.

Coach awareness, knowledge and practice in relation to growth and maturation and training load in competitive, young gymnasts

Growth-related and overuse injuries are commonly reported in young gymnasts. Two risk factors of these injuries are growth and maturation, and training load. However, little is known regarding current coaching knowledge and practice in relation to these risk factors. To help understand current knowledge and practice, 44 coaches of competitive, young gymnasts, from 3 gymnastics disciplines (men’s artistic, women’s artistic, trampoline) took part in focus groups. The focus groups explored the awareness, experience and practice of coaches in relation to growth and maturation, training load and injury in competitive, young gymnasts. Data were analysed manually using an inductive thematic approach to identify core themes. The findings showed that coaches were aware of the physical changes and injuries that occur during the adolescent growth spurt. Both psychological changes and skill loss/confusion were also identified as challenges during this time. The knowledge and practice of monitoring growth and maturation, and training load did however differ between disciplines. Sports science and medicine practitioners were recognised as key stakeholders in helping manage and reduce the risk of injuries during growth. There appears to be gap between coach knowledge of growth and maturation, and training load, and practices such as monitoring training load and growth. Educating coaches and further research in these areas will aid coaches in reducing the risk of injuries in young, competitive gymnasts.

Practices of Strength and Conditioning Coaches: A Snapshot From Different Sports, Countries, and Expertise Levels.

Weldon, A, Duncan, MJ, Turner, A, LaPlaca, D, Sampaio, J, and Christie, CJ. Practices of strength and conditioning coaches: a snapshot from different sports, countries, and expertise levels. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1335-1344, 2022-This study describes the practices of strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) from different sports, countries, and expertise levels. One hundred fifty-six SCCs (31.9 ± 8.9 years old) completed an online survey, consisting of 40 questions (36 fixed response and 4 open-ended), with 8 sections as follows: (a) background information, (b) muscular strength and power development, (c) speed development, (d) plyometrics, (e) flexibility development, (f) physical testing, (g) technology use, and (h) programming and any additional comments. Responses were received from 48 sports and 17 countries. This study provides exploratory evidence incorporating responses primarily in soccer (45%), track and field (30%), volleyball (23%), golf (17%), and tennis (17%). A bachelor's degree or higher were held by 99% of SCCs, of which 94% were in a sports science-related field, and 71% held a strength and conditioning related certification or accreditation. Periodization strategies and physical testing were used by 96% and 94% of SCCs respectively. The hang clean (82%), power clean (76%), and clean high pull (63%) were the most prescribed Olympic weightlifting exercises. Multiple hops/lunges (84%) were the most prescribed plyometrics exercises. For open-ended questions, 40% of SCCs wanted to integrate more technology into their programs and 30% believed technology will be the main future trend. Strength and conditioning coaches from different sports, countries, and expertise levels can use the information presented in this study to review their current practices and provide a source of new ideas for diversifying or modifying future practices.

Evaluating the impact of a coach development intervention for improving coaching practices and player outcomes in netball: The MASTER coaching randomized control trial

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the impact of a novel 8-week coach development intervention (MASTER) on game-based coaching practices of netball coaches from one netball club (n = 16; 8 intervention, 8 active-control; NSW Australia), and player outcomes for the junior athletes being coached. The multi-component MASTER intervention aimed to educate coaches on how to design and implement high quality game-based coaching sessions. The core pillar of MASTER is ‘positive coaching,’ delivered through games-based coaching practices. At baseline and 10-weeks, two coaching sessions per coach were filmed and assessed using the MASTER assessment tool. Players (8-16yrs; n = 85) were videoed during structured gameplay, with three aspects of game play assessed using Game Performance Assessment Instrument. Coaches and players (n = 75; 12-16yrs) completed a perceptions questionnaire. Using linear mixed model ITT analysis, significant interventions effects were observed for the primary outcome: percentage of time spent performing playing-form activities [25.7% (95% CI (7.79-43.65), P = 0.008, d = 1.52]. Significant interventions effects were also observed for coach perceptions, player game skills, and player self-perceptions (P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed for player enjoyment, motivation, or wellbeing. The MASTER program was effective in improving coach and player self-perceptions, and coaching practices of netball coaches during training sessions.

Contemporary practices of strength and conditioning coaches in professional cricket

This study describes the contemporary practices of strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches in male professional cricket. Thirty-three S&C coaches working with international and professional club teams across seven countries completed an online survey. The survey consisted of 45 questions (35 fixed responses and 10 open-ended), with eight sections: (a) background information, (b) muscular strength and power development, (c) speed development, (d) plyometrics, (e) flexibility development, (f) physical testing, (g) technology use, and (h) programing. Most S&C coaches were educated to degree level (97%) or higher, with 91% of degrees being in a sports science-related field. Furthermore, 73% held S&C and 40% cricket coaching certifications. Isometric type resistance training exercises (94%) were frequently programed by S&C coaches, with squats and deadlifts (including variations) deemed the most important strength development exercises. Ratings of perceived exertion (58%) was most used for determining set loads. Hang clean (64%) and multiple hops/lunges (85%) were the most prescribed Olympic weightlifting and plyometric exercises. Speed gates (85%) were the most used technology-based equipment. Open-ended questions revealed, 45% of S&C coaches believed time constraints, scheduling and fixtures are the main issues faced in their role. Position-specific demands (61%) was the predominant method used for individualizing players training strategies. The information presented in this study is valuable for those pursuing or currently working as an S&C coach in professional cricket to align, compare, and explain their practices. Furthermore, will provide insight for the wider athlete support team (e.g., sports coaches and physiotherapists) on the practices of S&C coaches.

STUDY ON THE ATHLETIC PREPARATION OF JUNIOR HANDBALL PLAYERS IV (12-13 YEARS)

Background. Handball is accessible to everyone. It can be practiced by children and young people, men and women and even older people. Most technical procedures are executed by hand, and the ball being small can easily control. In the process of continuous lifting of athletes' capacities, physical and technical training are factors whose weight is special for the successful solving of the objectives and tasks of a certain stage of training. Their judicious ratio and connection depends to a large extent on the level of training an athlete can achieve. Objectives.  Studying the methodology for developing specific motor skills through investigations and documentation on the literature, as well as on the training programs used by junior handball players in the training process, in the preparatory stage;  The collection of data from the coach's practice on the basis of which, by processing, the characteristics of the methods for developing specific motor qualities will be established;  Comparing all these data and studying the existing concordances or discrepancies in the training plans of junior handball players. Based on this, the conclusions of the paper will be drawn up to improve the methodology for the development of motor skills in the preparatory phase. Study hypothesis. If a systematization of the means and methods of developing the motor skills specific to athletics is achieved in the preparatory stage, of the training programmes, then we will be able to contribute to a better athletic training of junior handball players IV. Methods. The research methods used in this study were: The bibliographical study method; The Observation method; The Testing method; The Statistical and mathematical method; The Graphic method. Conclusion. At the final time of the study, the experimental group achieved better results than the control group in all tests carried out. In this study it was observed that by systematizing the means and methods of development of the motor qualities specific to athletics in the preparatory stage, the training programs, improved the preparation of junior handball players.