Guest speakers are critical to the MSc Applied Sports Coaching, providing insights into their practice and stimulating the coaches on the programme to reflect on their context. Specific activities before and after the guest sessions provide coaches with the structure to engage deeply with the guest speakers as they tell their story and answer questions.
These last few weeks have been busy in terms of guest lectures.
First up was Paul Kinnerk, coach of the Limerick Senior Hurlers. Ahead of the session, coaches were asked to review how they planned a coaching session. Within the session, Paul explained his process for developing session plans. Paul also described his approach to planning across a season. There followed an extensive Q&A covering a wide range of planning-related questions. To find out more about Paul’s research on planning, check out this recent publication: https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21640629.2021.1990653
There was also a Limerick hurling connection on the Performance Analysis module where we were joined by Sean O’Donnell. Sean described his journey from coach to analyst, and how performance analysis can be used in different ways to support player development at all levels from local clubs to county academies and senior inter-county teams. The diversity of contexts in which Sean has worked and was able to discuss is of huge value to a cohort of coaches working at all levels of player development.
The third guest speaker this semester was William Harmon, Head of Coach Development with the LGFA. William presented on his area of expertise: using communities of practice effectively to enhance coaching. As coaches on the cohort are about to begin working in a community of practice, the session was full of valuable insights into how to make this process work.
The fourth guest speaker had more of a research focus. Dr Matthew Smith from the University of Winchester is a social psychologist with particular research interests in leadership and group dynamics. He has recently conducted a range of fascinating studies using Ethnodrama. Ethnodrama is the scripting (and potentially the theatrical staging) of interview transcripts. It is a means by which complex issues can be explored effectively, by both the writer and reader/viewer of the Ethnodrama. Matt presented a case study on conflict between a captain and star player to illustrate what Ethnodrama is and how it might be effectively applied to sports coaching contexts. You can read an example of Matt’s ethnodramas here.
Summary
A critical component of the MSc in Applied Sports Coaching is the quality of guest speakers, telling their story and providing coaches with another perspective to stimulate reflect on their development. Across all modules, the guest speakers provide insight into a wide range of topics relating coach development, allowing each coach to focus on specific issues most relevant to their context.
You can find out more about the MSc in Applied Sports Coaching at the University of Limerick here. You can also take a look at #MScAppliedSportsCoachingUL where you will find insights such as graduate testimonials and examples of the type of research we will be engaging with.
If you are interested in the programme or require further information please contact:
Dr Philip Kearney PhD
Course Director – MSc Applied Sports Coaching
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences
University of Limerick
Limerick.
Ireland
Tel: 00-353-61202844
Email: ASC@ul.ie
Dr Phil Kearney is the Course Director of the MSc Applied Sports Coaching within the PESS Department here at the University of Limerick. View Phil’s profile link https://www.ul.ie/pess/iframe-staff/dr-philip-kearney]
Contact: Email philip.kearney@ul.ie Follow on X @kearney_phil ORCID ResearchGate Google Scholar
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