1. ‘Crafting knowledge’ – The learning journey of the coach
BA (Hons) Physical Education in the Primary Years BA (Hons) Physical Education in the Secondary Years
‘Crafting knowledge’ – The learning journey of the coach
Ed Christian and Matt Berry

2. Picture the scene……
BA (Hons) Physical Education in the Primary Years BA (Hons) Physical Education in the Secondary Years

3. BA (Hons) Physical Education in the Primary in the Secondary Years
Key themes…..
BA (Hons) Physical Education in the Primary in the Secondary Years
The ‘learning journey’ of the ‘expert’ coaches in our study;
What is a ‘learning journey?;
How do coaches ‘scaffold’ their learning and what do we mean by ‘scaffolding’?;
Possible implications for coach education.

4. Coaching chaos? Learners Logistics Anxiety Safety Feedback Soft skills
Teaching styles
Logistics
Child protection
Anxiety
Feedback
Safety
Paperwork!!!!
Practice
Soft skills
Motivation
Coaching is chaos but somhow people get better at doing it.
What shall I coach them?

5. However…. Coaches still get better (or at least some do!)
How do they get better?
If we know how good coaches got good, then can we use that to educate others?
Philosophical stance
Coaches also get better despite or in addition to NGB directives
Simple?
Complex?

6. Understanding the learning journey of high-level Adventure Sports Coaches
We spoke to some ‘high-level’ coaches from a range of adventure sports about:
What they do?
How they do it?
Why do they do it that way?
How they got better as a coach?

7. Who were they?
They held the highest level of coaching award in their area
Their standard of work is recognised by an appropriate national governing body (NGB) in that they educate other coaches to the highest level and, or contribute to the development of governing body awards
That adventure sports coaching is their main employment and they regularly coach participants at the forefront of their sport.

9. What did we find out? ASC’s are humble
ASC’s report the use of epistemologically ‘sophisticated’ approaches to coaching
ASC’s describe clear rationales for their approaches
ASC’s are humble
ASC’s use a range of sources to develop
Act as a catalyst for learning
To develop the whole person
Reflection
Willing to learn
Don’t know everything
Feedback
Create the right conditions for learning
Coach for understanding and permanency
CPD
To enhance autonomy/ independence
Take responsibility for athletes learning

10. The coaches learning journey
NGB (Coach education courses)
NGB (other support)
Significant others/ mentors
Reflection
Critical friends
Education
Experience
Twitter/ Social media
Networking
Competition
Literature

11. Coaches knowledge and beliefs (AKA Coaching philosophy)
NGB (other support)
NGB (Coach education courses)
Twitter
Reflection
Significant others
Peers
The Learners
Role models
Courses
Subject specific literature
Competition
Other sports
Critical friends
Own experiences
Networking
YouTube
Mentors
CPD
????????
Education
Coaches knowledge and beliefs (AKA Coaching philosophy)

12. ‘Scaffolding’ in teaching and learning
Scaffolding is the support given during the learning process which is tailored to the needs of the student (Sawyer, 2006).
Three stages;
Relationship: Collaborative, power neutral interaction between learner and teacher (coach);
Activities: Appropriate to learners ‘zone of proximal development’ (emphasis on independence);
Autonomy: As the learner progresses, scaffolding is updated/ removed.

13. Early stage of coaching
National Governing Body
National Governing Body
Organisational culture
Session content
Higher level coaches

14. Later stage of coaching
Experience
Critical friends
Social media
Reflection
Other Education/ courses
Literature
Values and beliefs
Mentor
NGB

15. Questions and implications
T1  -  Coaches working in the activation area and coaching skills  
T2  -  Coaches working in the performance competition area  
T3  -  Coaches working in High Performance and the Adventure Sports Space
T4  -  Coach Educators
Why do you coach the way that you do? What factors underpin this?
What are your coaching values beliefs?
How do you see the role of the governing body in facilitating the learning journey?

16. Sawyer, R. Keith. (2006). The Cambridge Handbook of the Learning Sciences. New York: Cambridge University Press.