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Understanding Your Coaching Practice

This is one of nine themes that comprise the Coach Learning Framework.

Understanding Pedagogy

Great Coaching Skills

Explore the key attributes that are key to creating memorable coaching experiences

Tips

Ten Ways to Solve Puzzles and Mysteries

Consider practical problem-solving guidance based on potential 'real life' scenarios

EXPERT OPINION

Coach Thinking Tool Will Help Remove Obstructions to Progress

Discover a simple matrix to support positive change in your participants

GUIDE

Case Study: Using the Coaching Behaviours Cards

Explore how the Coaching Behaviours Cards can be used to enhance coaching practice

Story

Understanding How Learning Happens

Asking Questions to Support Learning

Gain key insight to help you plan questions that will receive relevant and high-quality answers

GUIDE

Making Learning Happen

Find out more about making learning happen for participants and different approaches to supporting participant learning

GUIDE

Developing Learning Through Coaching Practice

Explore the concepts of scaffolding, feedback, interleaving/varied practice and spacing/retrieval practice

Guide

Creating a Climate for Learning

How to Make Activity Engaging

Discover how to ensure that people feel motivated, have fun and develop a positive relationship with being active

GUIDE

Planning to Get Feedback from the People You Coach

Consider how to outline key objectives, pick your moment and always have a plan in place for getting feedback

GUIDE

Coaching and the Language of Learning

Understand the role of language in how people learn and why it's important in coaching

TIPS

Developing Independent Learners

Developing Independent Participants

Consider the importance of encouraging the athletes that you coach to take ownership and responsibility of their own learning and development

GUIDE

Self-Determination Theory: A Person-Centred Approach

Discover the links between intrinsic motivation and self-determination theory

GUIDE

How to Empower the People We Coach

Explore the importance of ensuring that the people you coach feel empowered to develop a long-term love of sport and being active and how you can ensure this happens

EXPERT OPINION

Values and Cultural Expectations

Foundations of a Great Team and Culture

Consider what questions you need to ask yourself to build a strong team culture

VIDEO

Great Leadership in Elite Sport with Tracey Neville

Explore the principles that underpin great leadership and building strong relationships with athletes

PODCAST

Great Leadership in Female Sport with Anson Dorrance

Consider how to support the development of individuals and the team and find out what the 'competitive cauldron' is all about

PODCAST

Effective Communication

Listening vs Understanding: Solutions for Effective Communication

Learn how to diagnose and minimise communication problems

EXPERT OPINION

Why Good Questions are Important

Explore evidence-based guidance on good questions and their importance

TIPS

How to Start Asking Good Questions

Consider how to plan, implement and review your questioning skills

TIPS

Communication and Coaching

Understand your own communication style and your athletes' preferences and how this can enhance your coaching

GUIDE

Strategies for Getting Feedback from the People You Coach

Learn the importance of employing creative methods to encourage collaboration, engagement and constructive responses

TIPS

Receiving Feedback from the People You Coach

Understand the importance of receiving feedback well and using it as an opportunity to improve

TIPS

Practice Design: Planning

Nailing the Plan-Do-Review Process Always Starts with the Plan

Explore the importance of planning within the coaching process

GUIDE

Understanding the Practice Continuum

Learn about how to consider the design and development of activities within your practice, including using 'competition environment' 

VIDEO

Curious Coaches' Club: Skill Acquisition: Designing Better Practices

Explore the concept of skill acquisition and how to put together effective coaching sessions

PODCAST

Inclusivity Within Your Coaching Practice

Consider the importance and benefits of being adaptable, setting challenges and using constraints

GUIDE

How Do I Design Great Activities/Games

Consider an approach to designing great activities, along with a framework and questions

VIDEO

Nested Thinking Tool for Athlete Development Planning

Consider a Nested Thinking Tool, which can help you plot out objectives and consider timeframes for development

Template

Planning in Performance Environments

Discover insight into effective planning, including key recommendations on each step of the planning process from Performance Pathway Coach Developer Sarah Green

EXPERT OPINION

Practice Design: Delivery

How to RAMP it up as a Talented Athlete

Discover how you can start to plan and deliver physical development support more effectively

EXPERT OPINION

Understanding the Activity Inclusion Model

Find out how the Activity Inclusion Model (AIM) supports a person-centred approach to physical activity and sport

GUIDE

Coaching Methods and Strategies for all Coaches

Learn from four different coaches as they describe their different strategies and ability to change tack

VIDEO

Introduction to ‘Brilliant Basics’ Coaching Behaviours

Learn about coaching behaviours that can help you improve your coaching practice

INFOGRAPHIC

Coaching Practice ‘Brilliant Basics’ Guide

Explore seven principles to help you meet the needs of the people you coach

GUIDE

Rusty Nails It! Some Magic Advice on Returning to Coaching

Consider Russell ‘Rusty’ Earnshaw's advice on getting back into the rhythm of life as a coach 

TIPS

Curious Coaches' Club: How to Adapt Coaching for Mixed Ability Groups

Learn about adapting coaching practices for mixed ability groups

WEBINAR

How to Make Your Sessions More Active

The more you can get your participants moving the better. Explore how and why

GUIDE

Understanding the Idea of Coaching as a Performance

Explore the idea of coaching as a performance, with the coach as the actor

GUIDE

Using Games to Ignite Learning and Motivation

Explore a range of games-based approaches to coaching to support athletes' movement and thinking skills

PODCAST

How to Make Short, Informal Versions of Your Sport

Explore five ways you can tinker with your sport or activity to make it a snappier game

TIPS

If the Game is the Coach, What is My Role Now?

Consider how to use a games-based approach in your coaching sessions, including how to be an active observer

EXPERT OPINION

Observation, Analysis and Evaluation

Learn from four experts who explain how they observe, analyse and evaluate the people they coach and their own practice

VIDEO

Developing Athlete Decision-Making Through Coaching Practice

Consider research into how a competitive situation shapes and influences athletes' decision-making

VIDEO

Eight Recommendations for Coaching Decision Making in Sport

Explore strategies for maximising decision-making opportunities inside and outside of coaching sessions

TIPS

Practice Design: Review

Reflecting on Your Practice: Considerations for Coaches

Learn from insight into types of reflection and how to build a framework for effective reflection

GUIDE

Eight Steps to Great Coaching Reflection

Consider how you can build a more effective reflection process

EXPERT OPINION

Curious Coaches' Club: Getting Better at Reflection

Explore the topic of reflection and how to improve your skills

PODCAST

Reflecting After Your Sessions: Hot Reviews

Discover how reflecting immediately after a session can give rise to valuable insights

GUIDE

On or In? When is the Best Time to Reflect?

Consider three options for reflection and discover the advantages and disadvantages of each

GUIDE

Learn to Reflect: It’s all in the Knowing

Explore why the 'magic ingredient' of reflection is so important in developing your coaching craft

GUIDE

Coach Learning Framework

The Coach Learning Framework has been created to help you design memorable and engaging great coaching experiences that meet the needs of all your participants, regardless of your sport or physical activity.

Understanding Your Coaching Practice is one of nine themes that comprise this insight-based framework.

Continue your journey through the framework to learn more about the other eight themes and the key attributes of high-quality coaching environments, and how you can demonstrate the skills, qualities and behaviours that will empower the people you coach to achieve their personal goals.