Sport Skill Instruction for Coaches is designed to help current and aspiring coaches teach the skills athletes need in order to perform at their best. Written from a real-world perspective primarily for high school coaches, this practical, user-friendly text addresses the who, what, and how questions facing every coach: Who are the athletes I'm coaching? What are the skills I need to teach? How do I teach the skills effectively?
Coaches will address these questions by thoroughly examining such concepts as individual differences exhibited by athletes; technical, tactical, and mental skills athletes need to learn; content and structure of skill practice; the art of providing feedback; and the preparation of athletes for competition. This exploration prepares coaches to work with athletes competently and confidently.
The easy-to-follow format of the text includes learning objectives that introduce each chapter, sidebars illustrating sport-specific applications of key concepts and principles, chapter summaries organized by content and sequence, key terms, chapter review questions, activities that challenge readers to apply concepts to real-world situations, and a comprehensive glossary.
ASEP Silver Level Series Preface
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I Foundations of Skill Instruction
Chapter 1 Basics of Good Teaching
Differences Between Learning and Performing
Three Basic Ingredients of Skill Instruction
Process-Focused Approach to Providing Sport Skill Instruction
Learning Aids
Chapter 2 It All Starts With the Athlete
Individual Differences
Learner Characteristics
Difficulties in Predicting Future Performance Success
Learning Aids
Part II Skills Your Athletes Need
Chapter 3 Technical Skills
What Are Technical Skills?
Classifications of Technical Skills
Speed-Accuracy Trade-Off
Learning Aids
Chapter 4 Tactical Skills
Understanding Tactical Skills
Identifying Important Tactical Skills
Helping Your Athletes Develop Their Tactical Skills
Creating a Blueprint of Tactical Options
Learning Aids
Chapter 5 Mental Skills
Emotional Arousal in Athletic Performance
Attention During Sport Competition
Connection Between Arousal and Attention
Memory in Performance Preparation
Using Mental Skills to Maximize Performance
Combining Mental and Physical Rehearsal
Learning Aids
Part III Designing Practice Sessions
Chapter 6 Skill Analysis: Deciding What to Teach
Identifying the Skills Your Athletes Need to Learn
Setting Goals
Analyzing Technical Skills
Identifying Target Behaviors
Learning Aids
Chapter 7 Deciding on the Content and Structure of Practice
Games Approach to Skill Practice
Establishing Two-Way Communication
Instructions, Demonstrations, and Guidance
Modifications of Technical Skill Rehearsal
Practice Structure
Developing Athletes' Anticipation
Games Approach to Practicing for Competition
Learning Aids
Chapter 8 Providing Feedback
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Feedback
Verbal and Visual Feedback
Outcome and Performance Feedback
Program and Parameter Feedback
Descriptive and Prescriptive Feedback
Practical Considerations for Giving Feedback
Learning Aids
Chapter 9 Combining the Practice of Technical, Tactical, and Mental Skills
Planning Effective Practices
Creating Practice Activities
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Practice Activities
A Final Comment
Learning Aids
Appendix A: Answers to Review Questions
Appendix B: Answers to Practical Activities
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
