How to use it
Ultimately, this model helps coaches reflect on their sessions – and plan for future ones more effectively.
If you want to use it, here are some things to consider in each area.
Player engagement
When planning, think about how you want your players to feel during your session. For instance, do you want them to be excited, challenged, or ready to problem-solve?
When reflecting in this space, think about what you did to encourage and motivate your players to take part and learn.
Practice design/learning activity
When planning, think about how your practices will engage players and help them work on your focus for the session. Consider how you can use the STEP framework (Youth Sports Trust, 2002).
When it comes to reflection, consider if your practice design allowed for the intended outcomes to come out. Did it have realism, relevance, and repetition?
Intended outcomes
When planning, think about who you’re coaching and what you want to help them achieve. Consider setting clear targets or goals for the session and think about how you'll measure them.
Then, on reflection, think about what your intended outcomes were. Did your players achieve these? Were the intentions clear, and did your players understand them?
Coach behaviour
When planning, think about what you can do to add value and support your players. Then, consider how your communication and behaviour can help your team.
And when reflecting on this, consider how you behaved and what impact that had. Were you positive and did you allow players to make mistakes? When did you intervene, and how did you do it? What was your communication and body language like?
Give it a go. You’ll start to see how each area can impact the other and help you to support your players effectively. After all, all four areas are linked and don’t work in isolation.
