TY - JOUR
T1 - A critical analysis of the conceptualisation of ‘coaching philosophy’
AU - Cushion, Chris
AU - Partington, Mark
PY - 2016/8/17
Y1 - 2016/8/17
N2 - The aim of this paper was to critically review existing literature relating to, and critically analyse current conceptualisations of, ‘coaching philosophy’. The review reveals a bewildering approach to definitions, terms and frameworks that have limited explanation and reveal a lack of conceptual clarity. It is argued that rather than provide clarification and understanding the existing literature conflates coaching rhetoric and ideology with coaching philosophy and serves to reproduce existing coaching discourse rather than explain coaching practice. The paper problematises the unquestioned assumptions currently underpinning ‘coaching philosophy’; namely the overemphasis of coaches’ agency and reflexivity, the downplaying of the significance of social structure on coaches’ dispositions and the acceptance that coaching practice is an entirely conscious activity. The paper argues for an alternative philosophy of coaching that uses philosophic thinking to help coaches question existing ideology, and critically evaluate the assumptions and beliefs underpinning their practice.
AB - The aim of this paper was to critically review existing literature relating to, and critically analyse current conceptualisations of, ‘coaching philosophy’. The review reveals a bewildering approach to definitions, terms and frameworks that have limited explanation and reveal a lack of conceptual clarity. It is argued that rather than provide clarification and understanding the existing literature conflates coaching rhetoric and ideology with coaching philosophy and serves to reproduce existing coaching discourse rather than explain coaching practice. The paper problematises the unquestioned assumptions currently underpinning ‘coaching philosophy’; namely the overemphasis of coaches’ agency and reflexivity, the downplaying of the significance of social structure on coaches’ dispositions and the acceptance that coaching practice is an entirely conscious activity. The paper argues for an alternative philosophy of coaching that uses philosophic thinking to help coaches question existing ideology, and critically evaluate the assumptions and beliefs underpinning their practice.
KW - Coach education
KW - Coaching
KW - Coaching discourse
KW - Coaching philosophy
KW - Ideology
KW - Philosophical enquiry
UR - http://www.tandfonline.com/
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84908262330&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84908262330&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13573322.2014.958817
DO - 10.1080/13573322.2014.958817
M3 - Article (journal)
SN - 1357-3322
VL - 21
SP - 851
EP - 867
JO - Sport, Education and Society
JF - Sport, Education and Society
IS - 6
ER -