Implementing technical refinement in high-level athletics: exploring the knowledge schemas of coaches

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Coaching Pedagogy
• Athletics Technique Refinement

Background:

• Refining established techniques in elite field athletes (long jump, triple jump, javelin) presents unique coaching challenges.
• Existing literature suggests specific tools for technique refinement, including athlete buy-in, part-practice, and automaticity restoration.
• Understanding the practical application of these tools by experienced coaches is crucial for advancing coaching practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the approaches used by high-level field athletics coaches to refine athletes' advanced techniques.
• To identify the coaching tools and decision-making processes employed during technique refinement.
• To compare coaches' practices with existing literature and identify areas for improved coach education.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six elite field athletics coaches.
• Interviews focused on a recent instance of athlete technique refinement.
• Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the interview data.

Main Results:

• Coaches utilized tools consistent with literature: gaining athlete buy-in, part-practice, restoring automaticity, and performance under pressure.
• Five of six coaches employed a systematic, though varied, sequence of stages for refinement.
• Coaches' decisions were primarily experience-based, with limited reliance on formal coach education or training.

Conclusions:

• Elite coaches effectively apply established techniques for athletic refinement, often drawing on extensive experience.
• A gap exists between practical coaching experience and formal knowledge dissemination regarding technique refinement.
• Further collaboration between researchers and coach educators is needed to share best practices and enhance coach development.