APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2020 , Vol . 6
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Athletes as ‘ Learners ’: Characteristics of High-quality Learning and Development Environments
Beth Thompson
UK Coaching
Abstract This paper presents the key characteristics of a high-quality learning and development environment in the context of a UK Coaching study that was conducted to understand how best to maximise the potential of people in sport . The research involved 13 focus groups with 67 subject matter experts from across 12 different sports , from participation through to high performance . The study identified eight common characteristics of a high-quality learning and development environment : a culture of learning and improvement ; a balance of challenge and support ; a person-centred approach ; a focus on holistic development ; open , accessible and inclusive ; adaptive to individual needs ; alignment and coherence across the pathway ; and a focus on long-term development . These findings will prove useful in informing coach development programmes moving forward .
Keywords Athlete , talent , identification , development , learning , environment , holistic .
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