Episode 10: Coach education and development with Marianne Davies
Jun 19, 2024
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Marianne Davies, Senior Coach Developer for UK Coaching, shares insights from her 25+ years in adventure sports and education. She discusses how an ecological perspective is shaping coach education, addressing the disconnect between qualifications and real-world challenges. Marianne emphasizes the importance of flexible frameworks, self-directed learning, and research integration. The conversation promotes creating supportive, personalized learning environments and encourages collaboration among coaches and athletes for enhanced development.
The ecological perspective in coach education emphasizes the need for clarity in roles and tailored support systems for coaches' development.
Contextual adaptability is crucial for effective coach education, requiring frameworks that resonate with diverse coaching environments like community versus elite sports.
A shift towards adaptive assessment strategies promotes ongoing learning and self-evaluation, fostering a culture of lifelong development among coaches.
Deep dives
Understanding Coach Education Complexity
Coach education and development are complex systems influenced by numerous factors, including existing standards and the roles of various stakeholders. The discussion emphasizes the necessity for clarity regarding roles within the coaching ecosystem, asserting that coaches at different levels require tailored support and resources for their development. A critical point raised is that many coach education programs have not evolved alongside the practical needs of coaches, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction. The introduction of new programs, such as Thrive and Transform, aims to address these challenges by incorporating relevant topics, including ethical practice and personalized assessment methods.
The Importance of Contextual Understanding
Context is crucial in shaping effective coach education and development. The dynamics of coaching scenarios—such as community-level coaching versus elite sports—highlight the need for adaptable educational frameworks that resonate with real-life coaching experiences. By acknowledging the diverse environments in which coaches operate, this approach aims to develop a more relevant, engaging, and supportive educational experience. The conversation underscores that traditional, linear coach education often fails to recognize these contextual nuances, leading to ineffective learning pathways.
Moving Towards Adaptive Assessment Strategies
The discussion advocates for a shift from high-stakes assessments to a more adaptive approach that promotes ongoing learning for coaches. Assessment strategies should embrace concepts like 'assessment for learning' and 'assessment as learning,' enabling coaches to engage in self-evaluation and continuous improvement rather than simply proving their competence through a checklist. This approach seeks to reduce the pressures associated with assessments while fostering a culture of lifelong learning among coaches. It recognizes the potential for coaches to develop their own individualized learning processes that reflect their unique contexts and challenges.
Building Relationships and Collaborative Learning
Facilitating strong relationships within the coaching ecosystem underpins successful coach development. The conversation emphasizes the value of collaboration among coaches, developers, and other stakeholders to create enriching learning experiences that are responsive to their unique challenges. Engaging in discussions and sharing experiences can empower coaches and alleviate feelings of isolation often associated with coaching roles. Such collaborative networks not only enhance the quality of learning but also contribute to a supportive community where coaches feel understood and valued.
Long-Term Vision for Coach Development
A long-term vision is essential for the evolution of coach development frameworks that address current deficiencies. The emphasis is on redesigning these frameworks to be resource-efficient and oriented towards cultivating adaptive coaches who can thrive in diverse environments. Initial investments in support systems and relationships can lead to sustainable improvements, reducing coach turnover and enhancing community engagement in sports. The discussion illustrates that by prioritizing ongoing dialogue, research partnerships, and flexible learning, the coaching community can move towards a more effective and responsive educational paradigm.
This week we are joined by Marianne Davies from UK Coaching to discuss how an ecological perspective is influencing the design and development of coach education and development in the UK.
Marianne’s coaching experience includes more than 25 years of working in adventure sports, academic and corporate environments. She is a coach developer, coach educator, and national trainer. Marianne is currently working as a Senior Coach Developer for UK Coaching. This role includes shaping learning and development opportunities for the coach development and education workforces, working across the variety of roles and in all sports and physical activities. Creating learning and development experiences and resources with colleagues across the organisation to ensure that UK coaching leads the industry in this space.
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