Introduction to Sport Coaching

Description

This course introduces students to the contemporary practice of coaching and recent developments in research and practice in the field. It encourages open attitudes to innovations in coaching and the need for informed reflective practice. Students are encouraged to reflect upon their existing beliefs about coaching and how they dispose them toward recent developments in the field and the growing influence of research on practice. Students will gain knowledge and understanding about relevant aspects of human development and pedagogy with a focus on how to coach for learning rather than what to coach. They will be exposed to the idea of a spectrum of coaching styles from direct instruction to problem solving approaches and how the particular sporting context and sport affects decisions about which approach to take. It involves reflecting upon first hand experience as learners and coaches informed by relevant literature.