Sports Coaching: A Theoretical and Practical Guide

The application of the theoretical underpinnings of coaching to practice is a central concern in sport. How should academic research seek to inform applied practice, and how should practising coaches integrate research into their professional activities? Sports Coaching: A Theoretical and Practical Guide is the first book to truly integrate academic research on sports coaching with an assessment of and recommendations for applied practice.

With every chapter written by a coaching researcher and a practising coach, the book clearly and concisely introduces the academic evidence base and discusses how and why theory should be integrated into practice. Made up of sections on coaching practice, coach education and development, the use of sport science support and coaching special populations, the book constitutes a comprehensive guide to the theory and practice of sports coaching.

Chapters are clearly and consistently structured, allowing students and coaches opportunity to gain a firm understanding of the core theoretical principles of sports coaching and the ways in which they can guide practice. The book is a vital resource for any sports coaching student, researcher or practitioner to develop their evidence-informed practice.

Ed Cope is a Lecturer in Sports Coaching at Loughborough University, UK. Ed teaches on modules related to the disciplinary area of coaching pedagogy, and has published widely in the areas of coach behaviour, coach education and children’s attitudes towards and experiences of sport.

Mark Partington is a Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching at Edge Hill University, UK, where he coordinates and teaches a number of modules that integrate pedagogy and practical knowledge in coaching practice. Mark has used a number of qualitative methods in his research with professional coaches and coach developers including field note observations, interviews and focus groups and the quantitative method of systematic observation. As well as being a researcher, Mark has experience as a coach in performance and development environments.