The Necessity of Theoretical Understanding in Coaching Practices

In this episode of the Adaptive Coach podcast, Dr. Jamie Taylor discusses the intersection of theory and practice in coaching. He emphasises the importance of understanding various theories of learning, such as information processing, ecological dynamics, and active inference, and how they can inform coaching practices. Jamie highlights the need for coaches to bridge the theory-practice gap and adapt their methods based on the context and individual needs of athletes. He also addresses the role of mental models, perception-action coupling, and the influence of social sciences in coaching. The conversation culminates in a discussion about the upcoming book co-authored by Jamie, which aims to provide coaches with a comprehensive understanding of skill acquisition and its practical applications.