Published April 2022 by
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Signposting the Content
Welcome to Volume 8 of the UK Coaching Applied Research Journal . I am excited to signpost the four articles of a new approach to the Research Journal , presented with a refreshed look and feel . The content and new approach aims to explore and showcase the connection between coaching research and practice via the curation of relevant , thought provoking and accessible articles . The contributors to this new volume are leading figures in the sport coaching field .
Professor Chris Cushion ’ s stimulating article focuses on the ( dis ) connection between coaching research and coaching practice . Have you ever questioned why research recommendations may not transfer easily to practice , or what limits the impact of research on practice ? Informed by a breadth of literature , Chris cites ‘ idea laundering ’, ‘ waving theory from the balcony ’, coaching ’ s immaturity as a research field , and funding structures as limiting factors . These challenge us to rethink the relationship between research and practice .
Dr Anna Stodter offers a superb summary detailing the ten things she has learned from ten years of her research focused on coach learning . Anna offers a concise theory of coach learning , also explained with a visual coffee filter metaphor – it is presented here with a fresh look . Therefore , if you are questioning ; ‘ what is learning ?’, ‘ why don ’ t coaches always take on board new ideas ?’ or ‘ how can I support coaches to learn ?’, then Anna ’ s article is the one for you .
Professor Julian North provides an engaging ‘ thought piece ’ with three primary considerations : ‘ do other coaches face similar challenges to me ?’, ‘ how do I navigate this “ Twitter™ [ opinion ] storm ”?’ and ‘ what role can research play in informing my practice ?’. To begin , Julian explores common day-to-day issues and problems coaches face and how to address them . These findings are connected to how coaches might navigate ‘ tribal thinking ’ on social media . Finally , Julian clarifies , for him , the role of research as one of informing and not determining coaching practice – this includes a sneak peek at some upcoming research .
In the fourth article , Kim Hide writes about her own experience at the English Football Association ( FA ) in building an evidence-informed , innovative approach to coach learning and development at the FA . Kim questions the dominance of qualifications as underpinning coach learning and development . Then she draws upon Shackleton-Jones ’ 5Di model , to outline how the FA are working towards communicating their coach development framework as a ‘ learning landscape ’. This is informed by an understanding of what coaches spend their time doing and the challenges they face .
Thank you to the authors for their generous contributions in supporting this new volume . I look forward to hearing about how these articles provoke your thinking .
Dr Lauren Downham , Research Manager at UK Coaching
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