Session 4: Comparing international level coaches

Introduction

You continue your exploration of coaching and psychology by looking at what approaches have proved effective with international adult athletes. By looking behind the scenes at this top level, you will start to understand what drives athletes, how coaches might best support experienced athletes and how some of these ideas might transfer to your own learning journey.

Coaching full-time squads is a tough job and there is no one-size-fits-all approach; each coach will bring their own style and practices. In this session, you listen to three top coaches talking about their work; concentrate on comparing and contrasting their different approaches and philosophies. They give unique insights beyond the sound bites of standard media interviews and you should be able to relate some of what they say to your own experiences of learning.

By the end of this session, you should be able to:

• identify common themes in the coaching approaches and philosophies of the three coaches
• recognise that a traditional style of coaching in which the coach holds all the knowledge is increasingly being challenged by alternative types of coaching in which there is a more balanced relationship between athlete and coach

• explain how encouraging appropriate attitudes, beliefs and approaches to learning are important aspects of a coach’s work.