Applied Coaching Research Journal Research Journal 5 | Page 32

APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2020, Vol. 5
Three-minute Poster Challenge
Dr Lisa Whitaker
UK Coaching
As part of the 2020 UK Coaching Applied Research
Conference, researchers were invited to take part in
a three-minute poster challenge to showcase their
research in an informal and interactive session. Five
presenters took part in the challenge and here is a
brief summary of their research.
What is a poster challenge?
Presenters had three minutes to deliver an
‘elevator pitch’ using a poster as a visual tool
to convey the key messages from their
research. Timing of the three minutes was strict
to encourage speakers to explain their research
succinctly and focus on the most important
information. Time was allocated for questions
at the end of the challenge.
Giving CLA a structure
Marc Crump shared his research on using a
constraints-led approach (CLA) in rugby union.
Marc’s research focused specifically on using
this approach in structured play rather than
unstructured play where CLA has typically been
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applied in rugby union. Using semi-structured
interviews, he examined coaches’ experiences of
using a CLA to teach pre-planned strategies at a
National League women’s rugby club. The coaches
interviewed engaged with CLA in three stages:
planning, delivery and reflection. For example,
during the planning phase, coaches designed
sessions to incorporate the pre-planned strategy
and then determined the constraints based on the
intended outcome of the strategy. Marc presented a
conceptual framework, which could help to enhance
coaches’ use of CLA. He also suggested that the use
of CLA could help to improve training of
pre-planned strategies within rugby union. However,
Marc reported that the coaches interviewed had a
limited understanding of the underlying theory of
CLA, so helping coaches to understand the theory is
the first step to encouraging greater use of a CLA.
Understanding Open Goals
Leanne Burton shared her research on the Liverpool
Football Club Foundation’s 'Open Goals' programme.
Leanne’s study evaluated the impact of Open Goals,
which is a community intervention involving the
delivery of multi-sport sessions in local parks
and open spaces. The purpose of Open Goals
was to support families to become more active.
Leanne conducted a process evaluation to assess