Sports Coaching Education and Alternative Pedagogies: Approaches in Higher Education

Sports Coaching Education: Applying Innovative Pedagogies theorises alternative pedagogies and presents examples of what such teaching looks like in sports coaching higher education. To do this, this new volume outlines the teaching goals of higher education coach education, summarises the limitations of this education that research has demonstrated, and presents alternative pedagogy as a way forward. The book then turns to showcasing work by an international selection of authors practicing alternative pedagogies that focus on a range of topical issues relevant to sports coaching such as; ethics; power; safeguarding/abuse; sustainability gender/sexuality; race/ethnicity; pain/injury, the authors of each of the international chapters outline the alternative pedagogical approach they employ in their teaching and present exemplary teaching materials that can be used by educators.

Alternative or non-traditional pedagogies are strategies of delivery that are becoming more popular in undergraduate and postgraduate coach education, Sports Coaching Education: Applying Innovative Pedagogies raises attention to contemporary issues in sports coaching and alternative pedagogies of delivery for university coach education students.

Using alternative pedagogies, the book presents coach education teaching materials on a range of topical issues that higher education scholars can implement in their teaching and will be key reading for academics, researchers and students in the areas of sport coaching, sport education and the related disciplines.

Natalie Barker-Ruchti is Associate Professor in sport management and sport coaching, Örebro University. She holds a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Otago and a MA in Recreation and Leisure Studies from Victoria University of Wellington, both New Zealand. Natalie gained her PhD in Human Movement Studies at The University of Queensland, Australia in 2007.

Laura Purdy is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sport and Physical Activity at Edge Hill University, UK. Her interest in the academic field of sports coaching was fostered by her involvement as a coach and coxswain in rowing programmes ranging from novice to elite levels, including junior, adaptive and veteran. This curiosity continues to be fuelled via contributions to coaches’ CPD (Continuing Professional Development) in a range of sports and international settings. Laura’s academic work focuses on performance sporting cultures and the experiences of coaches and athletes/players who operate in these contexts.