Module Code - Title:
SS6122
-
REFLECTIVE PRACTICE FOR SPORTS COACHES AND APPLIED COACHING PROJECT
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
Reflective practice has been identified as a critical practice and personal skill to support the development of expert coaches. This module will examine the origins and underpinning philosophy of reflective practice. An overview of tools and skills for practical reflective practice will be provided to support the development of effective reflective processes within the student coaches.
Syllabus:
This module examines how reflective practice can be used as a tool for turning experience into knowledge as an effective tool for coach development and improving personal coaching practice. The syllabus will move from a historical to practical background exploring other domains before examining different tools of and for reflective practice.
Indicative Curriculum:
1. Practical skills: coach effectiveness and behaviours, coach communication, expertise in coaching
2. The importance self-awareness and understanding self
3. The Origins of Reflective Practice
4. Reflective Practice and the role in coaching effectiveness
5. Tools for Reflective Practice
6. Analysis of coaching behaviours and practice
7. Programme evaluation
8. Becoming an effective lifelong learner-reflective practice in action
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
• Reflect on the importance of the reflective process and the origins and benefits of reflective practice from settings outside of sport and in coaching
• Critically review a range of approaches and techniques to facilitate reflective practice within sports coaching and identify preferred ways to reflect on one's own practice.
• Demonstrate the key components of coaching practice including: coach effectiveness and behaviours, coach communication, expertise in coaching
• Identify the components of mentoring programmes and the success factors for successful mentoring programmes and communities of practice
• Develop and utilise a tool kit of practical reflective practices and apply these to own context and personal development
• Critically reflect on current coaching practice and specific episodes and develop a reflective coaching journal
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
• Engage in reflective practice on an ongoing basis and record and be able to express development needs and impact on coaching practice
• Share with and listen to other student coaches' experiences and coaching reflections to develop and value the importance of a shared reflective process
• Work with other coaches to develop student-student reflective processes
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, observation and reflection and on-line learning.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Martens R. (2012)
Successful Coaching 4th Edition
, Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics
Potrac P, Gilbert W and Denison J. (2012)
Routledge Handbook of Sports Coaching.
, London: Routledge
Jones RL, and Kingston K. (2013)
An Introduction to Sports Coaching: Connecting Theory to Practice.
, London: Routledge
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Spring
Module Leader:
philip.kearney@ul.ie