Sports Coaching: Professionalisation and Practice is a comprehensive evidence-based textbook of sports coaching theory and practice. The book is edited by leading academics in sports coaching studies and authored by a world-renowned team of experts in sports coaching research. It deals with all aspects of coaching behaviour and practice, including coaches' decision making, coaching pedagogy, and the development of expertise. Each of the chapters provides an up-to-date position statement on coaching themes, and makes explicit reference to the professionalisation of coaching. Written in an accessible style, and identifying critical ideas and issues, the book will complement and challenge both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes, and will be an invaluable source of ideas for researchers and academics.

Sport Coach Learning and Professional Development describes the genesis and theoretical foundations of an emerging workflow for supporting sport coaches learning and professional development in performance and high‑performance sport. It is the clear exposition and critical insight into coaches’ learning and professional development, and of coaching practice, that provides the foundations for an Embedded, Relational and Emergent Coach Learning and Professional Development Strategy.

Learning and development is not something that can be ‘done’ to people; rather, it is about working alongside, supporting experienced coaches to identify and resolve meaningful questions that generate personal and professional growth. This approach more appropriately attends to individual differences in biographies, perspectives, roles and socio‑ultural settings. Whilst the focus and nature of support shifts to reflect the goals that coaches and athletes are working towards relative to the changing demands of their context, the approach consistently centres around three overlapping themes:

1 Supporting coaches to learn through and from their everyday experiences.

2 Supporting coaches to reflect on and explore the nature of the experiences they create for others.

3 Supporting coaches by being available, listening, offering reassurance, support and caring.

Working through this process necessitates close cooperation and frequently incorporates reflective dialogue, collaborative planning and shared enquiry. The work is therefore both relational and developmental. Coach and coach developer both bring something to the working relationship, which in turn shapes and influences the nature of the work undertaken. The nature of the goals pursued, the strategies employed and the collective courses of action taken are always shaped and influenced by the interpersonal resources that emerge through the work together (the overlap).

The application and effective deployment of the strategy is illustrated and illuminated in a series of case studies. These demonstrate not only the efficacy of the strategy but also the lessons learned from working with coaches in their embedded contexts. This book is a key resource for coaches, coach developers, students and researchers working in the overlapping fields of sport coaching, learning and professional development.

Sport Coach Learning and Professional Development describes the genesis and theoretical foundations of an emerging workflow for supporting sport coaches learning and professional development in performance and high‑performance sport. It is the clear exposition and critical insight into coaches’ learning and professional development, and of coaching practice, that provides the foundations for an Embedded, Relational and Emergent Coach Learning and Professional Development Strategy.

Learning and development is not something that can be ‘done’ to people; rather, it is about working alongside, supporting experienced coaches to identify and resolve meaningful questions that generate personal and professional growth. This approach more appropriately attends to individual differences in biographies, perspectives, roles and socio‑ultural settings. Whilst the focus and nature of support shifts to reflect the goals that coaches and athletes are working towards relative to the changing demands of their context, the approach consistently centres around three overlapping themes:

1 Supporting coaches to learn through and from their everyday experiences.

2 Supporting coaches to reflect on and explore the nature of the experiences they create for others.

3 Supporting coaches by being available, listening, offering reassurance, support and caring.

Working through this process necessitates close cooperation and frequently incorporates reflective dialogue, collaborative planning and shared enquiry. The work is therefore both relational and developmental. Coach and coach developer both bring something to the working relationship, which in turn shapes and influences the nature of the work undertaken. The nature of the goals pursued, the strategies employed and the collective courses of action taken are always shaped and influenced by the interpersonal resources that emerge through the work together (the overlap).

The application and effective deployment of the strategy is illustrated and illuminated in a series of case studies. These demonstrate not only the efficacy of the strategy but also the lessons learned from working with coaches in their embedded contexts. This book is a key resource for coaches, coach developers, students and researchers working in the overlapping fields of sport coaching, learning and professional development.

Coaching is a vital factor for success in sport at all levels. Sport Coaching Concepts offers a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical issues that underpin sport coaching practice. Now in a fully revised and updated new edition, it explains why a conceptual approach to sport coaching is more important than ever before, using practice-orientated analysis to help students develop a full understanding of coaching theory and technique.

Drawing on more than a decade’s worth of research, the book reflects upon the profound changes that have transformed coach education and development. It covers all the key topics of the sport coaching curriculum and includes six new chapters on the evolution of coaching theory, coaching expertise, decision making, social perspectives on the coach–athlete relationship, social inclusion and principles of coach development. Each chapter contains a full range of pedagogical features to aid learning, including discussion questions, practical projects, guides to further reading, case studies and insights from practising coaches.

Sport Coaching Concepts is essential reading for all students of sport coaching and any serious coaches looking to develop their own coaching practice.

Coaching is a vital factor for success in sport at all levels. Sport Coaching Concepts offers a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical issues that underpin sport coaching practice. Now in a fully revised and updated new edition, it explains why a conceptual approach to sport coaching is more important than ever before, using practice-orientated analysis to help students develop a full understanding of coaching theory and technique.

Drawing on more than a decade’s worth of research, the book reflects upon the profound changes that have transformed coach education and development. It covers all the key topics of the sport coaching curriculum and includes six new chapters on the evolution of coaching theory, coaching expertise, decision making, social perspectives on the coach–athlete relationship, social inclusion and principles of coach development. Each chapter contains a full range of pedagogical features to aid learning, including discussion questions, practical projects, guides to further reading, case studies and insights from practising coaches.

Sport Coaching Concepts is essential reading for all students of sport coaching and any serious coaches looking to develop their own coaching practice.

Sports Coaching: Professionalisation and Practice is a comprehensive evidence-based textbook of sports coaching theory and practice. The book is edited by leading academics in sports coaching studies and authored by a world-renowned team of experts in sports coaching research. It deals with all aspects of coaching behaviour and practice, including coaches' decision making, coaching pedagogy, and the development of expertise. Each of the chapters provides an up-to-date position statement on coaching themes, and makes explicit reference to the professionalisation of coaching. Written in an accessible style, and identifying critical ideas and issues, the book will complement and challenge both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes, and will be an invaluable source of ideas for researchers and academics.

Sport Coach Learning and Professional Development describes the genesis and theoretical foundations of an emerging workflow for supporting sport coaches learning and professional development in performance and high‑performance sport. It is the clear exposition and critical insight into coaches’ learning and professional development, and of coaching practice, that provides the foundations for an Embedded, Relational and Emergent Coach Learning and Professional Development Strategy.

Learning and development is not something that can be ‘done’ to people; rather, it is about working alongside, supporting experienced coaches to identify and resolve meaningful questions that generate personal and professional growth. This approach more appropriately attends to individual differences in biographies, perspectives, roles and socio‑ultural settings. Whilst the focus and nature of support shifts to reflect the goals that coaches and athletes are working towards relative to the changing demands of their context, the approach consistently centres around three overlapping themes:

1 Supporting coaches to learn through and from their everyday experiences.

2 Supporting coaches to reflect on and explore the nature of the experiences they create for others.

3 Supporting coaches by being available, listening, offering reassurance, support and caring.

Working through this process necessitates close cooperation and frequently incorporates reflective dialogue, collaborative planning and shared enquiry. The work is therefore both relational and developmental. Coach and coach developer both bring something to the working relationship, which in turn shapes and influences the nature of the work undertaken. The nature of the goals pursued, the strategies employed and the collective courses of action taken are always shaped and influenced by the interpersonal resources that emerge through the work together (the overlap).

The application and effective deployment of the strategy is illustrated and illuminated in a series of case studies. These demonstrate not only the efficacy of the strategy but also the lessons learned from working with coaches in their embedded contexts. This book is a key resource for coaches, coach developers, students and researchers working in the overlapping fields of sport coaching, learning and professional development.

Sport Coach Learning and Professional Development describes the genesis and theoretical foundations of an emerging workflow for supporting sport coaches learning and professional development in performance and high‑performance sport. It is the clear exposition and critical insight into coaches’ learning and professional development, and of coaching practice, that provides the foundations for an Embedded, Relational and Emergent Coach Learning and Professional Development Strategy.

Learning and development is not something that can be ‘done’ to people; rather, it is about working alongside, supporting experienced coaches to identify and resolve meaningful questions that generate personal and professional growth. This approach more appropriately attends to individual differences in biographies, perspectives, roles and socio‑ultural settings. Whilst the focus and nature of support shifts to reflect the goals that coaches and athletes are working towards relative to the changing demands of their context, the approach consistently centres around three overlapping themes:

1 Supporting coaches to learn through and from their everyday experiences.

2 Supporting coaches to reflect on and explore the nature of the experiences they create for others.

3 Supporting coaches by being available, listening, offering reassurance, support and caring.

Working through this process necessitates close cooperation and frequently incorporates reflective dialogue, collaborative planning and shared enquiry. The work is therefore both relational and developmental. Coach and coach developer both bring something to the working relationship, which in turn shapes and influences the nature of the work undertaken. The nature of the goals pursued, the strategies employed and the collective courses of action taken are always shaped and influenced by the interpersonal resources that emerge through the work together (the overlap).

The application and effective deployment of the strategy is illustrated and illuminated in a series of case studies. These demonstrate not only the efficacy of the strategy but also the lessons learned from working with coaches in their embedded contexts. This book is a key resource for coaches, coach developers, students and researchers working in the overlapping fields of sport coaching, learning and professional development.

Coaching is a vital factor for success in sport at all levels. Sport Coaching Concepts offers a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical issues that underpin sport coaching practice. Now in a fully revised and updated new edition, it explains why a conceptual approach to sport coaching is more important than ever before, using practice-orientated analysis to help students develop a full understanding of coaching theory and technique.

Drawing on more than a decade’s worth of research, the book reflects upon the profound changes that have transformed coach education and development. It covers all the key topics of the sport coaching curriculum and includes six new chapters on the evolution of coaching theory, coaching expertise, decision making, social perspectives on the coach–athlete relationship, social inclusion and principles of coach development. Each chapter contains a full range of pedagogical features to aid learning, including discussion questions, practical projects, guides to further reading, case studies and insights from practising coaches.

Sport Coaching Concepts is essential reading for all students of sport coaching and any serious coaches looking to develop their own coaching practice.

Coaching is a vital factor for success in sport at all levels. Sport Coaching Concepts offers a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical issues that underpin sport coaching practice. Now in a fully revised and updated new edition, it explains why a conceptual approach to sport coaching is more important than ever before, using practice-orientated analysis to help students develop a full understanding of coaching theory and technique.

Drawing on more than a decade’s worth of research, the book reflects upon the profound changes that have transformed coach education and development. It covers all the key topics of the sport coaching curriculum and includes six new chapters on the evolution of coaching theory, coaching expertise, decision making, social perspectives on the coach–athlete relationship, social inclusion and principles of coach development. Each chapter contains a full range of pedagogical features to aid learning, including discussion questions, practical projects, guides to further reading, case studies and insights from practising coaches.

Sport Coaching Concepts is essential reading for all students of sport coaching and any serious coaches looking to develop their own coaching practice.