Is Coaching (or Teaching Sport) too Inclusive?
The idea that coaches are too inclusive is dependent on which level they are working in. According to Duffy’s (2007) diagram of The UK Framework: A 3-7-11 the role of Children’s and Participant Coaches is to be as inclusive as possible. See an example of this on a Run Fun Starz Sports Session Plan. But the danger is the standards of development at this level are minimized to accommodate participants with less ability. This is not necessarily the fault of the coach. If your duty is to 'coach to the middle' do you ignore the top? The answer should be no but it is difficult and sometimes even impossible to reach out to both. If you are ignoring the top then you are not being inclusive if we go by the definition?. When coaches have been set rigid criteria may it be by an organisation they work for, a club or a contract that must be followed it has a huge influence on how they coach, what they coach and whom they focus on.
Even so the standards of the developmental or participation stage should always seek to improve to get the best out of each individual including those with an advanced ability. If the aims and objectives are to coach to the middle those setting the agendas must also be aware that this risks excluding others. If coaches can be given the freedom of being inclusive without the expense of others who have the potential to develop beyond achieving basics then there is nothing wrong with being too inclusive.
What are your thoughts?
I say Floorball is one of the most inclusive activities you can engage in - and a good work out too. It is just a new modern sport perfect for school and after
ReplyDeleteIts a good team sport. Why do you think its one of the most inclusive activities?
ReplyDeleteIf you compare the force needed to move a football, baseball or a basketball - I say it is comparably less force needed and easier for a young child to move the whiffle ball over the floor (low resistance). I tend to believe that the "easyness" to move the whiffle ball makes the ball move a comparable longer way. Something that may minimize the cluster behavior you see in like young kids playing Football. Also it is hard to move that ball in the right direction or to "address a pass" to another player - like in basketball - creating some kind of a small "pin-ball" feel where the ball might end up at almost any given place on the court - rather often. These features, I think, provide players of different strengths to be able to play together in a more inclusive way as compared to many other not so modern activities. So all players irrespective of their comparable strengths gets a fair share of the action in Floorball. I can however not prove this with any study behind me - it is only based on pure personal observations - and I might be wrong and may skew this to the benefit of FB. But I say the topic is interesting and it should be investigated further - I think.
ReplyDeleteYou make a very good point about Floorball with regards that it is not as physically/technically demanding compared to some sports.
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