Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer: 

A: Coaching Self- Reflection Task: (15%)              

In this section you are required to reflect on your planning and the coaching of your athletes considering the application of the self-determination theory to your coaching using a small sided games approach. Your reflection should also include discussion with regard to your peer’s observations of your coaching and if available, observations based on video feedback. 

Your self- reflection discussion should make links to at least 2 sources of academic literature (books &/or journals). Pay careful attention to APA Referencing & Formatting guidelines as you will also be marked on these aspects.

Consider the following questions separated into sub headings to aid your discussion. You are not required to set out your reflective discussion this way or reflect on each question, but these questions are used to get you to think.

Reflecting on using Self-determination theory to aid your coaching

Self-determination theory is based on the idea that individuals have an innate desire to want to master challenges and develop a sense of self (i.e. who they are as individuals) (Deci and Ryan 2000). Earlier, Deci and Ryan (1985) suggest that three universal psychological needs are crucial for motivation and psychological well-being. These are the desires for competence, autonomy and relatedness.

Thinking back to the lectures and workshops related to self-determination theory and in particular a young athlete’s desire for competence, autonomy and relatedness, reflect on how you applied this theory to the planning and coaching of your athletes at the primary school:

•    What did you do to build your athletes feelings of competence, autonomy and relatedness? What approaches did you use to try to engage your athletes in terms of your coaching and communication with them? 
•    What types of feedback did you use with your athletes? When did you use feedback with them and what were the results? 
•    What could you have done differently if anything to build feelings of competence and relatedness in your athletes?
•    What has been your biggest learning about how to build feelings of competence, autonomy and relatedness when coaching young athletes? What will you do differently next time as a result of this learning?

Planning & Coaching

•    How effective was your planning and coaching of your athletes
•    Do you think the athletes reached the session goals and objectives you set for them? Why or why not?
•    What did you observe about the young athletes in your group in terms of how they responded to the specific coaching approaches you used with them?
•    What changes did you make (if any) during the games/activities to help the athletes participate easier or solve problems? What happened as a result of making these changes in terms of their motivation levels? 
•    What would you do differently next time?

Peer Reflection Feedback

•    What did they say went well with the session?
•    What did they say didn’t go so well if anything with the session?
•    What did they say could have been done to improve the session?
•    What did they say about other aspects of your coaching? E.g. planning, equipment, safety etc.

Overview of the Coaching Session

•    What did you like best about the session?
•    What did you like least about the session?
•    What could you have done if anything to improve the session?
•    What will you do differently next time? – connect to sources of academic literature

Word Guide:
•    850 words
          Marking Criteria
•    Please refer to Blackboard (AUTonline) under the ‘Assessments’ tab for a copy of the marking criteria for this coaching self-reflection.