Fraser Carson

Utilizing Video to Facilitate Reflective Practice: Developing Sports Coaches

The professionalization of sports coaching has led to a constant need to develop and improve coaching performance and behavior. As a result, reflective practice has become common place within coaching and relevant to the development of sports coaches. This study aims to develop on traditional reflective processes, by identifying how video can be used to assist the learning process of coaches. Nineteen inexperienced coaches recounted their experience of using a video recording of a personal coaching practice, concentrating on: (a) the reflective process, (b) the use of video to assist this process, and (c) the practicalities of video reflection. Content analysis suggests increases in cognitive understanding of the coaching process and improvement in coaching performance are experienced through this form of reflection. Initial results suggest that video reflection can help improve inexperienced sports coaches by highlighting strengths and weaknesses in performance that may be overlooked by traditional methods.

The facilitative nature of avoidance coping within sports injury rehabilitation

Avoidance coping has commonly been reported within literature to be a debilitative process. However, in situations where goal attainment is reduced or eradicated avoidance coping strategies appear to have some benefit. The aim of this study was to identify the role of avoidance coping within the sports injury rehabilitation setting. A mixed methodological approach was utilized with four professional male rugby union players, concurrent with their rehabilitation from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery. Twice monthly interviews were conducted with each player, along with a self‐report diary and the Coping with Health, Injuries and Problems (CHIP; Endler & Parker, 2000 ) inventory. Content analysis showed six higher‐order themes split into two general dimensions: (a) behavioral avoidance coping (physical distraction, social interaction, maladaptive behaviors), and (b) cognitive avoidance coping (denial, thought stopping, cognitive distraction). Results suggest avoidance coping strategies facilitate control of short‐term emotional states, as well has appearing to have long‐term benefits for injured players. Particular benefits were associated with undertaking alternate work within the sports organization.

Every Day’s a New Day: A Captain’s Reflection on a Losing Season

Being captain of any team is a significant and prestigious position. In elite sport, the captain plays a vital role in both team and organisational leadership. To date there has been minimal research investigating captaincy, and none assessing the impact of regularly losing performances. A captain of a women’s national basketball league team participated in an in-depth, semi-structured interview reflecting on her experience during a losing season. Following Schutz’s (1967) framework, a social phenomenological analysis approach was taken, with seven higher-order themes emerging: being captain; relationship with coaching staff; relationship with teammates; team development; stressors; stress management; and self. Results suggest that while poor results affect all team members, there are increased levels of stress for the captain. The captain is expected to lead by example and avoid external expression of negativity. Further strains are placed on the captain, as they are the conduit between coaching and playing groups. As a result, the captain needs to have good support networks, from a variety of sources, to cope and minimise the impact on personal performance.