Sports coaching is a social activity. At its heart lies a complex interaction between coach and athlete played out within the context of sport, itself a socio-culturally defined set of practices. In this ground-breaking book, leading international coaching scholars and coaches argue that an understanding of sociology and social theory can help us better grasp the interactive nature of coaching and consequently assist in demystifying the mythical 'art' of the activity. The Sociology of Sports Coaching establishes an alternative conceptual framework from which to explore sports coaching. It firstly introduces the work of key social theorists, such as Foucault, Goffman and Bourdieu among others, before highlighting the principal themes that link the study of sociology and sports coaching, such as power, interaction, and knowledge and learning. The book also outlines and develops the connections between theory and practice by placing the work of each selected social theorist alongside contemporary views on that work from a current practicing coach. This is the first book to present a critical sociological perspective of sports coaching and, as such, it represents an important step forward in the professionalization of the discipline. It is essential reading for any serious student of sports coaching or the sociology of sport, and for any reflective practitioner looking to become a better coach.

Helping athletes to learn, and through this learning to improve their performance, is the essence of sports coaching. In the context of new government-led initiatives to invest in and develop coaching, "The Sports Coach as Educator "expands current conceptualizations of coaching, encouraging a view of coaches as professionals with a primary role as educators. With contributions from leading international scholars in the fields of sports coaching and education, this book provides the first introduction to pedagogical theory for coaching.
The text draws on theoretical concepts from a critical pedagogical paradigm to show how attention to educational theory can enrich the practices of coaches and coach educators, increasing opportunities for coaches and enabling them to approach their work in new and inventive ways. The text explores:
- Educational concepts in coaching
- Coaching, teaching and leadership
- Athlete learning
- Coaching communities and the social process
- Reflective practice
- Mentoring
- Developing expert coaches
"The Sports Coach as Educator "will help coaches to understand the nature of coaching, and assist students and researchers to better theorize and explain it.

This book addresses academic labor markets in three countries: France, Germany, and the United States. The management of faculty careers is a critical issue in university autonomy, and in many countries recent reforms have increasingly addressed this area.

Musselina (TM)s exhaustive empirical research on academic job hiring practices and faculty career patterns included over 200 interviews with faculty members and administrators concerning two disciplines: history and math. Each of the countries has very different historical traditions with regard to how peers recruit their colleagues within the academy. Using what is known as an "economics of quality" comparative approach, she sheds new light on faculty worklife. The authora (TM)s focus on the criteria of evaluation in academic hiring decisions is a unique contribution and one that should stimulate the current debates on higher education reforms.

Explores the lives and careers of physical education teachers from two perspectives. Firstly, teachers' life-stories illustrate how eight teachers became involved with sport, how they entered the physical education profession, why they developed particular teaching philosophies, and how they have tried to progress in their teaching careers. Secondly, a broader thematic analysis identifies issues which arise throughout the teachers' stories and locates them within the wider international research literature. Low status is identified as an enduring concern, and it is argued that this stems from a lack of empirical research into the educational outcomes which are claimed for physical education.

Explores the lives and careers of physical education teachers from two perspectives. Firstly, teachers' life-stories illustrate how eight teachers became involved with sport, how they entered the physical education profession, why they developed particular teaching philosophies, and how they have tried to progress in their teaching careers. Secondly, a broader thematic analysis identifies issues which arise throughout the teachers' stories and locates them within the wider international research literature. Low status is identified as an enduring concern, and it is argued that this stems from a lack of empirical research into the educational outcomes which are claimed for physical education.

This book addresses academic labor markets in three countries: France, Germany, and the United States. The management of faculty careers is a critical issue in university autonomy, and in many countries recent reforms have increasingly addressed this area. Musselin's exhaustive empirical research on academic job hiring practices and faculty career patterns included over 200 interviews with faculty members and administrators concerning two disciplines: history and math. Each of the countries has very different historical traditions with regard to how peers recruit their colleagues within the academy. Using what is known as an "economics of quality" comparative approach, she sheds new light on faculty worklife. The author's focus on the criteria of evaluation in academic hiring decisions is a unique contribution and one that should stimulate the current debates on higher education reforms.

Teaching athletes to improve their performance is the essence of sports coaching. In response to new government-led initiatives to invest in and develop coaching, this book is the first introduction to pedagogical theory for coaching. Bringing helpful insights from educational theory to bear on coaching practice, The Sports Coach as Educator expands and enriches the role of the coach and allows professionals to approach their work in new and inventive ways. Exploring the nature of coaching, this text covers:

• educational concepts in coaching
• coaching, teaching and leadership
• athletes learning
• coaching communities and the social process
• reflective practice
• mentoring
• developing expert coaches.

Sports coaching is a social activity. At its heart lies a complex interaction between coach and athlete played out within the context of sport, itself a socio-culturally defined set of practices. In this ground-breaking book, leading international coaching scholars and coaches argue that an understanding of sociology and social theory can help us better grasp the interactive nature of coaching and consequently assist in demystifying the mythical 'art' of the activity. The Sociology of Sports Coaching establishes an alternative conceptual framework from which to explore sports coaching. It firstly introduces the work of key social theorists, such as Foucault, Goffman and Bourdieu among others, before highlighting the principal themes that link the study of sociology and sports coaching, such as power, interaction, and knowledge and learning. The book also outlines and develops the connections between theory and practice by placing the work of each selected social theorist alongside contemporary views on that work from a current practicing coach. This is the first book to present a critical sociological perspective of sports coaching and, as such, it represents an important step forward in the professionalization of the discipline. It is essential reading for any serious student of sports coaching or the sociology of sport, and for any reflective practitioner looking to become a better coach.

The aim of this book was to explore how coaches' experiential learning could be harnessed and better developed within shared 'communities of practice (Lave & Wenger, 1991). The study involved two groups of coaches; one of elite and the other of developmental football players. Using an action research methodology, data on coaches' learning were gathered both through ongoing observations and focus groups interviews over the course of a nine-month season. The data were inductively analysed and presented as a series of unfolding narratives. The plot hinges on my (the first authors) attempts as a facilitator to encourage the respective groups of coaches to engage and develop within their CoPs. Findings revealed that whilst the developmental coaches were generally positive about participating in a CoP, and appeared to engage with its processes, the elite coaches were much less cooperative. The results contribute to the body of evidence-based studies that seek to examine, problematize and build credible pedagogies for coach education.

Successful sports coaching is as dependent on utilising good teaching and social practices as it is about expertise in sport skills and tactics. Understanding Sports Coaching offers an innovative introduction to the theory and practice of sports coaching, highlighting the social, cultural and pedagogical concepts underpinning good coaching practice. Now in a fully revised and updated second edition, the book explores the complex interplay between coach, athlete, coaching programme and social context, and encourages coaches to develop an open and reflective approach to their own coaching practice. It addresses key issues such as:

• power and the coach-athlete relationship
• viewing the athlete as a learner
• instructional methods and reflection
• how our view of ability informs assessment
• coaching philosophy and ethics.

Understanding Sports Coaching also includes a full range of practical exercises and case studies designed to encourage coaches to reflect critically upon their own coaching strategies, their interpersonal skills and upon important issues in contemporary sports coaching. This book is essential reading for all students of sports coaching and for any professional coach looking to develop their coaching expertise.