ABSTRACT

Underpinned by a philosophy of empowerment, athlete-centred approaches to coaching are defined by a style that promotes learning through ownership, responsibility, initiative and awareness. Perspectives on Athlete-Centred Coaching offers an in-depth theoretical examination of player-focused coaching models, and provides professional guidance for practising coaches.

Written by a cast of world-leading scholars and practitioners, and offering a breadth of approaches to, and critiques of, the application of athlete-centred coaching, the book covers topics including:

• athlete-centred coaching and holistic development

• coaching tactical creativity

• athlete-centred coaching in disability sport

• team culture and athlete-centred coaching

• developing thinking players through Game Sense coaching

• supporting athlete wellbeing

• athlete-centred coaching and Teaching Games for Understanding

• athlete-centred coaching in masters sport.

Based on the latest research and offering the most comprehensive enquiry into this central area of coaching theory, Perspectives on Athlete-Centred Coaching is important reading for any students and lecturers of sports coaching or physical education, and practising coaches across any sport.

chapter |5 pages

Introduction

part I|69 pages

Theoretical perspectives on athlete-centred coaching

chapter 1|15 pages

Athlete-centred coaching

Extending the possibilities of a holistic and process-oriented model to athlete development

chapter 4|10 pages

Athlete-centred coaching in disability sport

A critical perspective

part II|60 pages

Research perspectives on athlete-centred coaching

chapter 8|11 pages

developing thinking players

A coach’s experience with Game Sense coaching

chapter 9|12 pages

supporting wellbeing

Athlete transitions through elite to sub-elite sport

chapter 10|11 pages

Body in movement

Better measurements for better coaching

chapter 11|10 pages

Athlete-centred coaching and teaching games for understanding

Not quite the perfect match

part III|80 pages

Researcher-practitioner perspectives on athlete-centred coaching

chapter 13|11 pages

The autoethnographic journey of athlete-centred experiences, research and learning

Athlete to researcher, now coach, and beyond

chapter 14|10 pages

Athlete-centred coaching in swimming

An autoethnography

chapter 18|11 pages

athlete-centred coaching

Tensions and opportunities arising in the masters context