Reflective Practice

Lesson 1: An overview of reflective practice

 Aims

What is reflective practice?

Reflection on action and reflection in action

How is reflective practice used in sports

coaching?
What is reflective practice?
What is reflective practice?

A dialectical process: it looks inwards at our

thoughts and thought processes and outward at
the situation in which we consider the interaction
of the internal and external, our reflection
orientates us for further thought and action.
Reflection is thus ‘meta thinking’ (thinking about
thinking) in which we consider the relationship
between our thoughts and action in a particular
context.

Kemmis (1985. P141)

What is Reflective Practice?
What is Reflective Practice?
Learning from what you have just done?
What is Reflective Practice?
Learning from what you have just done?

Being honest with yourself

What is Reflective Practice?
Learning from what you have just done?

Being honest with yourself

Justifying what you do

What is Reflective Practice?
Learning from what you have just done?

Being honest with yourself

Justifying what you do

It is both backward and forward looking

What is Reflective Practice?
Learning from what you have just done?

Being honest with yourself

Justifying what you do

It is both backward and forward looking

Critical reflection includes questioning

routines, habitual practice, challenging
“conventional wisdom”, being able to ask
others and ourselves “why-type” questions.
Schon, 1983, 1987 & 1991
Schon, 1983, 1987 & 1991

Theory of action
Schon, 1983, 1987 & 1991

Theory of action

Espoused Theory
Schon, 1983, 1987 & 1991

Theory of action

Espoused Theory

Theories in Use
Schon, 1983, 1987 & 1991

Theory of action

Espoused Theory

Theories in Use

Reflecting on the congruence between what

we say we do and what we actually do is a
critical component in the improvement
process
When should you Reflect?
When should you Reflect?

Immediately after the session?

When should you Reflect?

Immediately after the session?

As soon as possible?
When should you Reflect?

Immediately after the session?

As soon as possible?

At a set time each week/day?

What sort of questions
should you ask?
What sort of questions
should you ask?
What is my coaching like?
What sort of questions
should you ask?
What is my coaching like?

Why is it like this?

What sort of questions
should you ask?
What is my coaching like?

Why is it like this?

How has it come to be this way?

What sort of questions
should you ask?
What is my coaching like?

Why is it like this?

How has it come to be this way?

What aspect of it would i like to improve?

What sort of questions
should you ask?
What is my coaching like?

Why is it like this?

How has it come to be this way?

What aspect of it would i like to improve?

Whose interest are being served (or denied)

by my coaching?
What sort of questions
should you ask?
What is my coaching like?

Why is it like this?

How has it come to be this way?

What aspect of it would i like to improve?

Whose interest are being served (or denied)

by my coaching?

What nourishes and/or constrains what i do?

Continued
 Continued

What pressures prevent/limit me from

coaching in alternative ways?
 Continued

What pressures prevent/limit me from

coaching in alternative ways?

What alternatives are available to me right

now?
 Continued

What pressures prevent/limit me from

coaching in alternative ways?

What alternatives are available to me right

now?

Ghaye, 2001.
Reflection on action
Reflection on action

This reflection happens after the session, it

can be written or mental.
Reflection in action
 Reflection in action

Reflection in action takes place during the

session.
Reflective practice in
sports coaching
Reflective practice in
sports coaching

Knowles, Tyler, Gilbourne & Eubank (2006)

Knowles, Gilbourne, Borrie & Nevill (2001)

Issues with reflective
practice in coaching
Issues with reflective
practice in coaching

Time
Issues with reflective
practice in coaching

Time

Training
Issues with reflective
practice in coaching

Time

Training

Application in sporting context

Issues with reflective
practice in coaching

Time

Training

Application in sporting context

Independance/autonomy
Any questions?