Beginner-Coaches and Connectivity of Knowledge: Real-World Coaching and Self-Reported Importance of Prior Playing Experience

Abstract

In what amounts to essentially being a part two to our previous work with six beginner-coaches that found noticeable benefits to reflective practice, yet a number of possible drawbacks such as time constraints and at times over-focusing on negative emotions (Hamblin & Crisp, 2022), we build upon the aims of that study that related to what beginner-coaches (in recreational sport fields) considered ideal coach learning within in-situ, practice-based contexts. Through revisiting the data of the first study (Hamblin & Crisp, 2022) and exploring an additional theme related to how the beginner-coaches identified sporting experience as a beneficial prerequisite to their own coaching practice, the present study sought to further investigate, and build upon, the findings and aspects of the first study. Continuing to explore how beginner-coaches who operate more within recreational (although still competitive) sport fields perceive in-situ, ideal learning, and continuing the same methodological approach, the present study conducted semi-structured interviews with another five beginner-coaches, adding to the six in the first study for a total of 11 participants.

Keywords

• coach development
• beginner-coaches
• scaffolding knowledge