POWA to the Imperfect Coach

Written by Paul GarnerĀ
Senior Lecturer University of Gloucestershire, BASI L4 – pgarner@glos.ac.uk
Context
For some time, an athlete-centred approach has featured prominently in coaching and coach development conversations. As a coach developer, parent, academic and coach I have witnessed so many good coaches having a positive influence across the sporting landscape, there is excellent practice at all levels. However, despite this bright picture there is always room for improvement, from grassroots volunteers right up to the elite and most celebrated coaches in global sport. This should come as no surprise; coaches are not flawless people, they are not immune to self-doubt, to the seductive feeling of power and the desire for recognition. Athlete-centredness sounds great on paper but in reality, it can be difficult to live. This article will explore some of the pressures coaches inevitably experience that contribute to imperfect practice. It will also share the findings of a research project that suggests a useful way to think about athlete-centred coaching, or more importantly a person-centred approach.
The shift from athlete-centred to person-centred might seem fussy, but I know that words shape the way we think, in subtle but important ways. I am motivated to develop people in the context of sport, not just athletes and this distinction in terminology is something that has really driven my work. I argue that an athlete-centred coach may be less likely to consider the wider, more holistic needs of the person in their quest to develop the athlete, whereas a person-centred coach is likely to positively influence athletic performance as part of their care for the person. Therefore, I have chosen to use person-centred coaching from now on…read the article.