Development, validation and reliability of the Coach Feedback Analysis System

Abstract

This study aims to document the development of the Coach Feedback Analysis System (CFAS) and to detail the establishment of its validity and reliability. The CFAS consists of six categories and eighteen feedback types that help to systematically describe how coaches provide feedback in on- and off-field coaching contexts (practice, competition and video review). The validity and reliability process involved the analysis of 600 minutes of footage from these contexts across four different team sports (hurling (indigenous Irish sport), football, Australian Rules football and women’s rugby union) (teams observed were male unless specified) and a variety of competitive levels (amateur, academy and professional) and age groups (u14, u16, adult). The face validity process conducted with a panel of coaching experts provided agreement that the CFAS was a valid instrument. The inter- and intra-observer reliability process also resulted in above acceptable levels of agreement between observers. It is suggested that the CFAS may be used as a coach development aid by helping to develop greater awareness between behavioural intentions and actions of how feedback is used in a variety of coaching contexts.