Readings in Coaching & Teaching

Review Critique Form

(from Locke Silverman, & Spirduso, 1998).

I. What review is this? (record a full APA reference)Duffy, P., Hartley, H., Bales, J., Crespo, M., Dick, F., Vardhan, D., Nordmann, L., Curado, J. (2011). Sport coaching as a ‘profession’: challenges and future directions. International Journal of Coaching Science, 5 (2), 93-123.

II. How does the author justify the review? What purpose is it intended to serve?It is a position paper, with the International Council for Coach Education (ICCE) having the sole purpose of discussing and justifying Sport Coaching as a profession.

III. How is selection of the studies handled? Is the review exhaustive, limited to a given time period, or restricted to research that involves a particular design, methodology, or population?In reading the article, I found that it was a bit exhaustive, meaning that it was all over the place with supporting sport coaching as a profession, as well as addressing its limitations.

IV. How is the question of quality in the selected studies handled? What does the author say about the credibility of what is reviewed.The criteria of a sport coaching profession are referenced from the European coaching council. This is a reliable and valid source of support within the sport coaching profession. With this being a position paper, most of the other information provided may be an opinion, but it is support by other research and other forms of profession.

V. How does the author sort or categorize the studies? What theoretical framework is used to organize the studies reviewed?The supporting research and other resources are used scattered throughout the article in order to best support the authors position on sport coaching as a profession.

VI. Are there actual data reported (qualitative or quantitative) or is the review done data free? Give an example to show type.There is actual data examples provided throughout the entire article. For example, “Stirling found that 78% of sport coaches had witnessed emotional abuse and 68% had witnessed bullying…” (Pg.104).

VII. Is there an attempt to identifya. Need for additional research (give example)?

i. The article suggests that the future sport coaching profession needs

to make a shift in focus at an international level. The article concludes that international standards and expectations need to be established on common ground.

b. Problems with the kind of question(s) asked (give example)?

i. A problem that is posed is should formal qualification vs. practical experiences be considered when meeting criteria and being prepared for a sport coaching profession.

c. Persisting technical difficulty with study designs, methods, subjects, or data analysis (give example)?

i. The organization of sport coaching is weak in comparison to other established professions.

VIII. Where is the task of summary handled (after major sections, end of review, not at all, etc.)?The conclusion is handled at the closing of the paper, before the references.

IX. How are the tasks of summary and integration handled? How does the author get from individual studies to general conclusions? Is some form of meta-analysis used, or are the author’s assertions based on some type of vote counting?The conclusion wraps up all the information presented on sport coaching as a profession stating the main points, as well as poses future suggestions for development of the profession.

X. What are the main conclusions drawn from the review?The conclusion objective recognizes respective roles of professional coaches, volunteers and pre-coaches, supported by process of professionalization. The conclusion also concludes that the profession of sport coaching is weak in comparison to other recognized professions.

XI. What applications (if any) are suggested as a result of reviewing the studies? How careful (explicit, clear, and thorough) do you think the author has been basing his or her suggestions on the studies reviewed and the conclusions derived?An application suggested is that a shift needs to be made on an international level, and some kind of common ground needs to be met on the criteria of the sport coaching profession.

XII. Write an abstract of what you might have said if you were asked to review this review. Clarity: The article was rather exhaustive and jumped all over the place. It was clear in most parts on reaching the point desired, but could have been clearer

than it was. Credibility: The support and other research provided was reliable and valid making the article credible in its position.Organization: The article was not well-organized and jumped all over the place. I believe the information could have been better organized. Topicality: The paper stays to the topic of sport coaching as a profession and the information provided is related to the topic. Utility: This article could be used as a base for development of sport coaching as a profession. Hopefully for development on an international level.