Coach Tracking Study(PDF) - sports coach UK

COACH TRACKING STUDY
5 A Drift to Informal Learning
The last four years have seen a change in how coaches acquire knowledge. They have moved away from
more organised, formal sources towards more informal learning. 3 Table 4 shows that the primary
sources used by coaches to develop their knowledge and skills tend to be informal sources of learning.
Table 4: Percentage of coaches using different learning sources
Source of Learning %
Coaching practice 86.5
Reading coaching books, magazines and journals 83.8
Reflecting on past coaching 81.0
Working with athletes/players/participants 78.3
Working with/observing coaches from your sport 73.0
Experiences as an athlete/player/participant 63.8
Watching DVDs, videos, CD-ROMs 63.3
Advice from family/friends 53.0
Online learning 54.5
Workshops 57.8
Governing body coaching qualification 44.8
Coaching conferences 48.0
Working with/observing coaches from other sports 43.3
Non-coaching-related education 41.0
Experience at work outside coaching 44.3
Formal sources of learning
3
For the purpose of this study, formal learning is regarded as an organised and structured presentation of knowledge/information to coaches (eg
qualifications, workshops and, to a lesser degree, conferences). Informal learning takes place outside of these formal situations (eg learning from
experience, talking with other coaches) or is self-directed (eg reading a book or searching the Internet). For a more detailed explanation of formal
and informal learning, see the sports coach UK website: www.sportscoachuk.org/resource/coach-learning-and-development-review-literature
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