ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we illustrate how the use of case studies can be an effective coach development strategy to support and enhance coaches’ practices. More specifically, we discuss how the first author (Jim), who was the second author (Nathan)’s supervisor for his master’s thesis in coaching, collaborated to explore how various warm-up protocols used within a high-performance swimming context could be designed differently to increase athlete engagement. We further justify our use of case studies as an effective coach development strategy given the “nature” of coaching as a complex and context specific activity. Accordingly, through a case study approach, a coach developer could support a coach’s development by focusing on issues and concerns that matter most to a coach given their particular coaching context.
