FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Institute of Sports Science

Impact of Higher Education in Sports

Coaching
Lusaka, Oktober 2015

Prof. Dr. Helmut Digel

Role of an athlete
a. Performance on own account
b. Performance with external services

The athlete on a shoulder of a giant

Herkules Farnese
3

Coach, Trainer, Instructor a cultural related job

Trainer, Betreuer, bungsleiter,

Disziplin-Chef, Taktik-Trainer,

entraneur, instructeur, moniteur

allenatore, istruttore, commissario tecnico,

Seleionatore, trainer tecnico, coach

coach, trainer

Supporting the athlete a complex system

donators

medical support
nation
physiotherapy

mental coach

sponsors

manager

friends

ATHLETE
officials

clubs

communication coach

COACH
COACH
federation

relatives
(parents, siblings, etc)

politics

Responsibilities of a Coach

Sp

or

tc
ar

ee

physical health
mental health
personality development

success / failure
education / double career
life after sports career

Competent acting as a Coach

What does a Coach know, do, understand, feel, think and say?

Knowledge

Ability

Thinking

Understanding

Feeling

Speech

>>> Decision-making and responsibilities <<<

Coach competencies
1. Professional Competence
(expertise, experience)
2. Methodological Competence
(methodological background, skills)
3. Communication Competence
(social competence)
4. Knowledge Competence

The Eight Domains of Coaching Competencies

- National Standards for Sports Coaches (NASPE 2006)

1. Philosophy and Ethics

This domain revolves around the verbs develop and implement, identify, model
and teach, reinforce and demonstrate as applied to an athlete centered
philosophy of positive values, ethical behavior and conduct for all those involved
in an organizations sports program.

2. Safety and Injury Prevention

This domain centers on preventing, monitoring and identifying sports injures,
facilitating and ensuring the development of a safe environment and addressing
the psychological implications of injuries.

Source: Ohio University, http://mastersincoachingonline.ohio.edu - National Association for Sport and Physical Education)

The Eight Domains of Coaching Competencies

- National Standards for Sports Coaches (NASPE 2006)

3. Physical Conditioning
This concerns the design, teaching, planning, and encouragement necessary for
proper nutrition, recovery exercises and physical conditioning and the advocacy
of a drug free participation.

4. Growth and Development

This is the application of knowledge of developmental phases, the facilitation and
support necessary to promote the lifelong benefits of exercise and the provision
of leadership opportunities to athletes as they grow and develop.

Source: Ohio University, http://mastersincoachingonline.ohio.edu - National Association for Sport and Physical Education)

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The Eight Domains of Coaching Competencies

- National Standards for Sports Coaches (NASPE 2006)

5. Teaching and Communication

Entails the planning, implementing and utilization of practice activities and
instructional strategies, the use of effective communication and the
demonstration of appropriate motivational tactics.

6. Sport Skills and Tactics

Encompasses knowing, identifying, developing and applying age and skill level
appropriate sports tactics and competitive strategies.

Source: Ohio University, http://mastersincoachingonline.ohio.edu - National Association for Sport and Physical Education)

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The Eight Domains of Coaching Competencies

- National Standards for Sports Coaches (NASPE 2006)

7. Organization and Administration

This covers the management of records, funding, human resources, emergency
planning, contests and legal responsibilities.

8. Evaluation
This involves the implementation and utilization of effective evaluation strategies
as they relate to team goals, individual performance, athlete motivation, coaching
staff and self.

Source: Ohio University, http://mastersincoachingonline.ohio.edu - National Association for Sport and Physical Education)

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Basic Coaching Competencies

- as defined by the International Coach Federation (ICF)

Meet ethical guidelines of the profession

Ability to establish an intimate and trusting relationship with the athlete
Ability to be fully present, conscious and spontaneous
Ability to express active listening
Ability to ask powerful questions
Ability to be a direct communicator
Ability to create and raise the athletes awareness
Ability to design and create action plans and action behaviors
Ability to develop plans and establish goals with the athlete
Ability to manage the athletes progress and hold him/her responsible
for action

Source: Brefi Group, http://www.brefigroup.co.uk

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General skills that characterize effective coaches

- as defined by the International Coach Federation (ICF)

Self-awareness and self-knowledge

Clear and effective communication skills
Relationship-building skills (including ability to establish rapport)
Flexibility of approach
Listening and questioning skills
Ability to design an effective coaching process
Ability to assist goal development and setting, including giving feedback
Ability to motivate
Ability to encourage new perspectives
Ability to assist in making sense of a situation
Ability to identify significant patterns and thinking and behaving
Ability to challenge and give feedback
Ability to establish trust and respect
Ability to facilitate depth of understanding
Ability to promote action
Build resilience
Source: Brefi Group, http://www.brefigroup.co.uk

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Executive Coaching Competencies

- as defined by the International Coach Federation (ICF)

A firm grounding in business knowledge and competencies

Thorough understanding of the world of the executive leader
A broad understanding of leadership and leadership development
Knowledge of systems dynamics (organization and community)
Knowledge of the framework of youth and adult development
High standards of personal and professional ethics
Highly developed communication proficiency allowing us to operate in the
executives environment
Advanced coaching skills and capabilities
Stature and reputation that gains respect
A commitment to lifelong learning similar to the leader him/herself

Source: Brefi Group, http://www.brefigroup.co.uk

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Coaching Competence Scale (CCS)

Five Dimensions
1. Creating the relationship
2. Communication attending skills
3. Communication influencing skills
4. Facilitating for learning and results
5. Making the responsibility clear

Source: Journal of Education and Learning, Vol. 2, No. 1; 2013, page 241
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Core Competencies for Coaches

International Coach Federation (ICF)

1. Setting the Foundation

-

Meeting Ethical Guidelines and Professional Standards

Establishing the Coaching Agreement

2. Co-creating the Relationship

-

Establishing trust and intimacy with the athlete

Coaching Presence

Source: ICF http://coachingfederation.org

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Core Competencies for Coaches

International Coach Federation (ICF)

3. Communicating Effectively
-

Active listening
Powerful questioning
Direct communication

4. Facilitating Learning and Results

- Creating awareness
- Designing actions
- Planning and goal setting
- Managing progress and accountability

Source: ICF http://coachingfederation.org

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Communicating Effectively
International Coach Federation (ICF)

1. Active listening
Ability to focus completely on what the athlete is saying and is not saying, to
understand the meaning of what is said in the context of the athletes desires,
and to support athlete self-expression.
-

Hears the athletes concerns, goals, values and beliefs about what is and is
not possible.
Distinguishes between the words, the tone of the voice, and the body
language.
Summarizes, paraphrases, reiterates, and mirrors back what athlete has said
to ensure clarity and understanding.
Encourages, accepts, explores and reinforces the athletes expression of
feelings, perceptions, concerns, beliefs, suggestions, etc.
Integrates and builds on athletes ideas and suggestions.

Source: ICF http://coachingfederation.org

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Communicating Effectively
International Coach Federation (ICF)

2. Powerful Questioning
Ability to ask questions that reveal the information needed for maximum benefit
to the coaching relationship and the athlete.
Ask questions that reflect active listening and an understanding of the athletes
perspective.
- Ask questions that evoke discovery, insight, commitment or action (e.g., those
that challenge the athletes assumptions).
- Ask open-ended questions that create greater clarity, possibility or new
learning.
- Ask questions that move the athlete toward what they desire, not questions
that as for the athlete to justify or look backward.
-

Source: ICF http://coachingfederation.org

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Communicating Effectively
International Coach Federation (ICF)

3. Direct Communication
Ability to communicate effectively during coaching sessions, and to use
language that has the greatest positive impact on the athlete.
Is clear, articulate and direct the sharing and providing feedback.
Reframes and articulates to help the athlete understand from another
perspective what he/she wants or is uncertain about.
- Clearly states coaching objectives, meeting agenda, and purpose of
techniques or exercises.
- Uses language appropriate and respectful to the athlete (e.g., non-sexist, nonracist, non-technical, non-jargon).
- Uses metaphor and analogy to help illustrate a point or paint a verbal picture.
-

Source: ICF http://coachingfederation.org

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What is relevant?
Practice patterns as referent point
Benchmarks for coaches

Instruct
Correct
Praise
Pick on
Reiterate
Describe
Use gesture
Yell
Monitoring

Soothe
Compare
Debate
Speak nonsense
Get to the route
because of the problem
Being precise
Use sympathy

Develop
Implement
Identify
Model
Teach
Reinforce
Demonstrate
Preventing

>>> Communication <<<

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Relationship between science and knowledge

Wissen

Wissenschaft

Knowledge Science humanities

Social Sciences Natural Sciences
Basic Research Applied Research

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Scientific based knowledge

Valid, reliable, objectiv

Organized and structured
Theory based
Recognized methods
Relevant
Highest priority in society
Professionalized produced

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The influence of Sciences on the Coaching Profession

Training sciences

Biomechanics
Medicine
Psychology
Communication Sciences
Sociology
Pedagogics

Applied computer science

Ethics
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Thank you.
Contact Details:
Institute of Sports Science
Prof. Dr. Helmut Digel
Wilhelmstr. 124, 72074 Tbingen, Germany
Phone: +49 7071 29-78424
Fax: +49 7071 29-5031
helmut.digel@uni-tuebingen.de