Quality Coaching, Learning and Coach Development

Abstract

Performance coaches are the architects of the coaching environment and responsible for leading and managing the coach-athlete-performance relationship. The effectiveness of the coach in leading and managing this relationship is important for producing appropriate outcomes such as physical and psycho-social development as well as competition results. The focus of this paper is on coaching within the performance environment, which includes development and high performance contexts. Firstly, this paper examines the notion of quality coaching; specifically, how we might conceptualise quality coaching. It is argued is that a key understanding of quality coaching is associated with learning. The learners include all actors within the coaching context, including coaches, athletes and support personnel. In the second part of the paper, the multifaceted and serendipitous nature of coach education and development is discussed.