The course is an introduction to coaching children and youth with a special emphasis on barriers and opportunities for sports participation and development. The course will give the students a theoretical understanding of the psycho-social processes underpinning development and learning in order to inform a pedagogical basis for their involvement in youth sport contexts. The focus will be on sociocultural and psycho-social perspectives on athlete development and coaching.

Knowledge

Students will develop a:

• general understanding of the barriers and opportunities for sports participation and development.
• general understanding of psycho-social and motivational processes relevant for participation, learning and development in youth sports.
• general understanding of patterns of youth sport participation and drop-out.
• general understanding of the organised youth sport context in Norway.
• critical understanding of perspectives on talent and expertise in sports, including how early specialisation in sports and selection mechanisms might affect sports participation, learning and development.
• critical understanding of marginalised groups in sports coaching and athlete development, such as athletes with disabilities and immigrant girls in sport.

Skills

It is expected that students will acquire the following skills:

• critical thinking about coaching practices.
• adapt to the contextual conditions that shape and enable their coaching practice.
• consider psycho-social and motivational processes when designing learning activities in children and youth sport settings.
• critically evaluate systems of athlete and talent development in children and youth sport settings.
• reflect upon their coaching aiming to optimize participation, learning and development in children and youth sport settings.

General competence

Students will have the competence to plan, implement and critically evaluate appropriate training and competition activities in youth sport settings for different groups of age, gender and skill level.

The structure of the course will be a combination of preparation for and participation in lectures and discussions (120 hours, including 40 hours of lectures), individual and group assignments (110 hours), and seminar activities including student presentations (20 hours).

In order to be permitted to do the final exam, students must pass five individual written assignments rated pass/fail.
Each with a 500-word limit, excluding references, 12 p Times New Roman, double line spacing, APA-standard of referencing. Papers that exceed the word limit or does not follow the guidelines for formatting or referencing will not be evaluated.
The assignments must be submitted in a pdf-format in Canvas at the given date and time.

The final written exam is a one-week individual written assignment with 2500-word limit, excluding references, 12 p Times New Roman, double line spacing, APA-standard of referencing.
Grading (A-F).

1 BOOK:
Stafford, I. (Ed.) (2011). Coaching children in sport. Routledge.
* You will find the book in the Library here: ORIA
** The book is also available electronic/online: Click here to download.
*** NB! To open the electronic book off campus, you need to use the following VPN connection: Click here to download.
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NB! To open electronic articles off campus, you need to use the following VPN connection: Click here to download.

Coaching children and youth in Norway
Understanding context: Coaching children and youth in Norwegian sports

2 CHAPTERS FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Lyle, J. (2011). What is a coach and what is coaching. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 5-16). Routledge.

Muir, B., Morgan, G., Abrahams, A., & Morley, D. (2011). Developmentally appropriate approaches to coaching children. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 17-37). Routledge.

1 ELECTRONIC ARTICLE:
Macdonald, D., Kirk, D., Metzler, M., Nilges, L. M., Schemp, P., & Wright, J. (2002). It's all very well, in theory: Theoretical perspectives and their applications in contemporary pedagogical research. Quest, 54(2), 133-156. http://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2002.10491771
* This article is available online: Click here to download.

1 ELECTRONIC REPORT:
Bakken, A. (2019). Ungdata 2019: Nasjonale resultater. (NOVA-rapport 9/19). http://www.hioa.no/Om-OsloMet/Senter-for-velferds-og-arbeidslivsforskning/NOVA/Publikasjonar/Rapporter/Ungdata-2019.-Nasjonal-resultater
* This is available online: Click here to download.
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Coaches’ learning and development, and the challenge of thinking differently:

1 ELECTRONICK ARTICLE:
Denison, J. (2019). What it really means to ‘Think Outside the Box’: Why Foucault matters for Coach Development. International Sport Coaching Journal, 6(3), 354-358. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2018-0068
* This article is available online: Click here to download.

2 CHAPTERS FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Cushion, C. (2011). Coaches’ learning and development. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 57-69). Routledge.

Stafford, I. (2011). The essential skills of a coach. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 70-83). Routledge.
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Athlete and talent development in sports
Models of athlete development in sport

2 CHAPTERS FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Bailey, R., Toms, M., Collins, D., Ford, P., McNamara, A., & Pearce, G. (2011). Models of young player development in sport. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 38-56). Routledge.

2 ELECTRONIC ARTICLES:
Lloyd, R. S., Oliver, J. L., Faigenbaum, A. D., Howard, R., De Ste Croix, M. B., Williams, C. A., ... Myer, G. D. (2015). Long-term athletic development - Part 1: A pathway for all youth. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29(5), 1439-1450. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000000756
* This article is available online: Click here to download.

Lloyd, R. S., Oliver, J. L., Faigenbaum, A. D., Howard, R., De Ste Croix, M. B., Williams, C. A., ... Myer, G. D. (2015). Long-term athletic development, Part 2: Barriers to success and potential solutions. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29(5), 1451-1464. https://doi.org/10.1519/01.jsc.0000465424.75389.56
* This article is available online: Click here to download.
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Deliberate practice and specialisation pathways in sport:

3 ELECTRONIC ARTICLES:
Côté, J., & Vierimaa, M. (2014). The developmental model of sport participation: 15 years after its first conceptualization. Science & Sports, 29, S63-S69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2014.08.133
* This article is available online: Click here to download.

Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Romer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3), 363-406. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.100.3.363.
* This article is available as a PDF in Canvas.
(OK based on §15 of the Copyright Law)

Soberlak, P., & Cote, J. (2003). The developmental activities of elite ice hockey players. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 15(1), 41-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200305401
* This article is available online: Click here to download.
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Sport specialisation and the health of young athletes:

2 CHAPTERS FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Malina, R. M. (2011). The health of young athletes. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 240-255). Routledge.

Myer, G. D., Jayanthi, N., DiFiori, J. P., Faigenbaum, A. D., Kiefer, A. W., Logerstedt, D., & Micheli, L. J. (2015). Sport specialization, Part I: Does early sports specialization increase negative outcomes and reduce the opportunity for success in young athletes? Sports Health, 7(5), 437-442. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738115598747
* This article is available online: Click here to download.

Myer, G. D., Jayanthi, N., DiFiori, J. P., Faigenbaum, A. D., Kiefer, A. W., Logerstedt, D., & Micheli, L. J. (2015). Sports specialization, Part II: Alternative solutions to early sport specialization in youth athletes. Sports Health, 8(1), 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738115614811
* This article is available online: Click here to download.
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Successful talent development environments in sports:

3 ELECTRONIC ARTICLES:
Henriksen, K., Stambulova, N., & Roessler, K. K. (2011). Riding the wave of an expert: A successful talent development environment in kayaking. Sport Psychologist, 25(3), 341-362. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.25.3.341
* This article is available online: Click here to download.

Larsen, C. H., Alfermann, D., & Christensen, M. C. (2012). Psychosocial skills in a youth soccer academy: A holistic ecological perspective. Sport Science Review, 11(3-4), 51-74.
* This article is available online: Click here to download.

Storm, L. K., Henriksen, K., Larsen, C. H., & Christensen, M. K. (2014). Influential relationships as Ccntexts of learning and becoming elite: Athletes' retrospective interpretations. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 9(6), 1341-1356. https://doi.org/10.1260/1747-9541.9.6.1341
* This article is available online: Click here to download.
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Athlete development in the Norwegian sport model:

3 ELECTRONIC ARTICLES:
Bjørndal, C. T., Ronglan, L. T., & Andersen, S. S. (2015). Talent development as an ecology of games: A case study of Norwegian handball. Sport, Education and Society, 22(7), 864-877. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2015.1087398
* This article is available online: Click here to download.

Bjørndal, C. T., & Ronglan, L. T. (2017). Orchestrating talent development: Youth players’ developmental experiences in Scandinavian team sports. Sports Coaching Review, 7(1),1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2017.1317172
* This article is available online: Click here to download.

Bjørndal, C. T., Andersen, S. S., & Ronglan, L. T. (2017). Successful and unsuccessful transitions to the elite level: The youth national team pathways in Norwegian handball. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 13(4), 533-544. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954117740014
* This article is available online: Click here to download.
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Psycho-social development and motivational processes in sports
Communication with young players

1 CHAPTER FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Walsh, J. (2011) Communication with young players. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 84-96). Routledge.

2 ELECTRONIC ARTICLES:
Turman, P. D. (2008). Coaches’ immediacy behaviors as predictors of athletes’ perceptions of satisfaction and team cohesion. Western Journal of Communication, 72(2), 162-179. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570310802038424
* This article is available online: Click here to download.

Carpentier, J., & Mageau, G.A. (2016). Predicting sport experience during training: The role of change-oriented feedback in athletes’ motivation, self-confidence and need satisfaction fluctuations. Journal of sport and exercise psychology, 38(1), 45-58. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2015-0210
* This article is available online: Click here to download.
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The role of the coach in youth sport settings:

2 CHAPTERS FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Telfer, H., & Brackenridge, C. (2011) Professional responsibilities of children’s coaches. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 97-108). Routledge.

Miles, A. (2011) The reflective coach. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 109-120). Routledge.
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Psycho-social and motivational processes in children and youth sport:

1 CHAPTER FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Quested, E., & Duda, J. (2011). Enhancing children’s positive and personal development: A motivational perspective. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 123-138). Routledge.

1 ELECTRONIC ARTICLE:
Keegan, R., Spray, C., Harwood, C. & Lavallee, D. (2010). The motivational atmosphere in youth sport: Coach, parent, and peer influences on motivation in specializing sport participants. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 22(1), 87-105. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200903421267.
* This article is available online: Click here to download.
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The role and influence of the family, parents and peers in the development of athletes:

1 CHAPTER FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Kay, T., & Bass, D. (2011). The family factor in coaching. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 169-180). Routledge.

1 ELECTRONIC ARTICLE:
Côté, J. (1999). The Influence of the Family in the Development of Talent in Sport. The Sport Psychologist, 13(4), 395-417. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.13.4.395
* This article is available online: Click here to download.
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Developmental transitions, participation and drop-out in sports:

2 CHAPTERS FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Wharton, K. (2011). The child in high-performance sport. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 181-196). Routledge.

Bruner, M., Strachan, L., & Côté, J. (2011). Developmental transitions in sports. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 227-239). Routledge.
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Sport and positive youth development:

2 CHAPTERS FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Holt, N. L. (2011). Sport and positive youth development. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 256-266). Routledge.

Rossi, A., & Tinning, R. (2011). The young player as a learner. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 278-289). Routledge.
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Marginalised groups in sports coaching
Coaching athletes with disabilities

1 CHAPTER FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Black, K. (2011). Coaching disabled children in sport. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 197-212). Routledge.
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Girls and ethnic minorities in sport:

1 CHAPTER FROM THE BOOK ON TOP OF THIS LIST:
Jeanes, R. (2011). Girls in sport. In I. Stafford (Ed.), Coaching children in sport (p. 215-226). Routledge.

3 ELECTRONIC ARTICLES:
Hatzigeorgiadis, A., Morela, E., Elbe, A.-M., Kouli, O., & Sanchez, X. (2013). The integrative role of sport in multicultural societies. European Psychologist, 18(3), 191-202. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000155
* This article is available as a PDF in Canvas.
(OK based on §15 of the Copyright Law)

Dworkin, S. L. (2001). “Holding Back”: Negotiating a glass ceiling on women's muscular strength. Sociological Perspectives, 44(3), 333-350. https://doi.org/10.1525/sop.2001.44.3.333
* This article is available online: Click here to download.

Chawansky, M. (2005). That takes balls: Toward a feminist coaching methodology. Women's Studies Quarterly, 33(1/2), 105-119. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/40005504
* This article is available online: Click here to download.