Practical Sports Coaching

Practical Sports Coaching is a thorough and engaging guide for all sports coaching students and practitioners. Drawing on real-life case studies and examples, the book is designed to develop practical coaching skills and provides readers with the methods and tools they need to become an expert coach. Structured around all facets of the coaching process, the text comprehensively covers topics such as: Preparing to Coach, the Role and Philosophy of Coaching, Coaching Environments and the use of Modern Technology in Coaching. This new and fully updated edition includes several new chapters that examine new and critical research areas such as the Coaching Professional, Coach Wellness & Mental Health and Performance Analysis for Coaches. The book's practical approach allows the reader to consider common challenges faced by coaches, suggesting solutions to performance concerns and preparing students for the realities of professional sports coaching. The contributors draw upon their practical coaching experience as well as an understanding of coach learning and development. Practical Sports Coaching helps to bridge the gap between theory and practical coaching skills, and is an essential text for coaching students looking to deepen their understanding of sports coaching and experienced coaches developing their own practical skills.

Christine Nash, PhD is the Head of Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences (ISPEHS) in the Moray House School of Education and Sport at the University of Edinburgh, UK. She has worked within a number of Higher Education institutions worldwide, most recently as a Visiting Professor at Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany. Before entering Higher Education, Christine has worked in multiple countries as a coach, most notably a National Coach, as well as a university coach, within the sport of swimming.

Section 1 1. The Role of the Coach 2. Planning your Coaching: A focus on Youth Participant Development 3. The Importance of a Coaching Philosophy 4. The Coaching Professional Section 2 5. The Talent Development Curriculum 6. The Art and Science of Refinement: Modifying, Polishing and Tweaking Learnt Skills 7. Team Coordination and Decision Making 8. The Competition Environment Section 3 9. Coach Learning and Development 10. Interpersonal Knowledge of Coaching 11. Coach Mental Health and Well-being 12. Moving beyond Competence 13. Communities of Practice and Social Learning Spaces for Sport Coach Learning: What and How Section 4 14. Big Data in Sport 15. Performance Analysis for Coaches Section 5 16. Putting It All Together: Expertise in Coaching