A review of the use of a systematic observation method in coaching research between 1997 and 2016

Abstract

2A systematic observation method has been one of the most popularly employed 3 methods in coaching research. Kahan's review of this method conducted between 4 1975-1997 highlighted the key trends in this research, and offered methodological 5 guidance for researchers wishing to use this method in their research.

Examining the Relationships Between Coaching Practice and Athlete “Outcomes”: A Systematic Review and Critical Realist Critique

“…Representative of wider coaching literature (Cope et al, 2016;Partington & Cushion, 2013;Potrac, Jones, & Cushion, 2007) the most prevalent sport identified within articles pertaining to coaching practice and athlete outcomes was association football (soccer) (n = 91 studies). Other more popular sports within studies were basketball (n = 61 studies), swimming (n = 40 studies), volleyball (n = 38 studies), track and field (n = 31 studies), and tennis (n = 24 studies).…”

“…Various reviews of the literature have attempted to redress these issues, providing some useful insights into existing findings and prevalent research approaches (e.g., Kahan, 1999;Gilbert & Trudel, 2004a;Vella, Oades, & Crowe, 2010;Denison & Avner, 2011;Cope, Partington, & Harvey, 2016). However, most reviews focus on specific elements of coach behaviour or research methods in isolation, leaving our understanding of the relationship between coaching practice and athlete outcomes fragmented and unclear.…”

An exploration of the relationship between educational background and the coaching behaviours and practice activities of professional youth soccer coaches

“…Following University ethics approval, a total of 39 practice sessions were filmed, providing 3154 minutes of footage. In order to ensure an adequate picture of coaching practice, it is recommended that at least three sessions are observed (Brewer and Jones 2002;Cope, Partington and Harvey 2017). Therefore, following previous empirical research (e.g.…”

“…Claxton 1988; Ford, Yates and Williams 2010; Lacy and Darst 1985), each coach was observed a minimum of three times (M = 3.9, SD = 0.74). To establish reliability, inter-and intra-observer testing was carried out (Cope, Partington and Harvey 2017;Van Der Mars 1989).…”

“…It is of course recognised that, as argue, coaching behaviours per se do not stand alone as predictors of effective coaching (Douge and Hastie 1993) nor do they "embrace the entirety of the coaching process" (Lyle 1999, 14). Indeed, mixed methodologies are increasingly employed combining systematic observation with interpretive interviewing revealing the rationales underpinning coaches" behaviour and identifying contextual variables influencing practice (Cope, Partington and Harvey 2017;Hall, Gray and Sproule 2016;Potrac, Jones and Cushion 2007). Such an approach provides information about "what coaches do" and also important insight into "why" and "how".…”