Transcript

LUCY MOORE

We talk a lot about learning, but I just wondered what you think that word means.

STUART ARMSTRONG

Learning. It's interesting, isn't it, particularly in a sports context? I think, traditionally, when people talk about learning, often they're talking about-- or they'll think about-- like being in school, and memorization of facts, and being able to sort of process those, and to go through a particular process in order to be able to come with an actual answer. One of the problems, I suppose, in our world, in sport, is that we're learning a physical dimension as well. So there isn't always an answer that's easy. So, for me, learning in sport is about experience, and there's a bit about how we can utilise our experience, reflect on our experience, and then utilise that to maybe act in different ways going forward. What about you?

LUCY MOORE

Yeah, totally. I think it's a really, really personal process. And like you say, it's not just about knowledge and information. It's also about skills. So I think it is really, really individual. How do you like learning as a coach?

STUART ARMSTRONG

Now, that's interesting, as a coach. I think I learn best with others. I definitely like to read. I like to study. I like to find out new information and new knowledge and try and apply it, but what I've found is that the actual application of my learning is much better when I'm doing it with others. So I've got that opportunity to be able to get there almost like immediate feedback because there's times when I think I know I've got something, I go and do something, but I'm not 100% certain, and having somebody else's viewpoint is so much better for me in terms of either giving me the oh, you might have missed this, the gaps, or showing me perhaps the areas where I could have done it better.

LUCY MOORE

It sounds like you're quite driven to learn by yourself, but that in practise stuff's really important for you.

STUART ARMSTRONG

Definitely, the practical element.

LUCY MOORE

Yeah. I think, for me, I would completely resonate with that, but also I can't undervalue the qualifications and more formal opportunities that I've had, so going through more structured workshops, and training, and attending conferences just to hear information and ideas from people I wouldn't perhaps seek out on my own.

STUART ARMSTRONG

So, in that context then, in order to then make it real for you and actually make a difference to how you act as a coach, how have you been able to make that translation happen?

LUCY MOORE

So I guess that comes with a huge amount of self-reflection and thinking, and then, as you say, when you get into practise, bouncing off ideas of other people and letting them come and ask me questions about what I've learned and whether I'm actually showing what I think I'm showing.

STUART ARMSTRONG

Now you say that, I think that's probably the same for me as well. I definitely think some of the formal stuff I'm using as a reference point and using that as a place where I can refer back to the things that I'm then trying to do, but I still feel that, for me, the most powerful experiences have usually been I'm either working with another coach, and I get to see them in action, and kind of bounce ideas off them. I definitely feel, for me, that it's in the environment where I'm definitely learning the most.