Reference for Paper

Robertson, S., & Woods, C. T. (2021). “Learning by Design”: What Sports Coaches can Learn from Video Game Designs. Sports Medicine-Open, 7(1), 1-8.

🐥Tweets

https://twitter.com/Mr_Tennis_Coach/status/1497262998326587395

The Paper in 3 Sentences 🚀

1. The role of coaches has shifted towards being designers of the learning environment. The environment must be designed to promote interactions. The coach is a companion rather than transmitter of knowledge
2. This paper goes through 13 Key Principles that are in video game design that can also influence good practice design
3. The principles are not designed to be used in isolation but rather combined together.

🤝Impressions

This paper gives an excellent insight into how coaches can harness the power of the principles of ‘Video Game Design’ to create engaging and effective practice environments. Video Games are designed to be engaging and by using some of these principles we can make our own sessions more engaging for our players. The paper gives practical examples and insights into how coaches can benefit from integrating these principles into their coaching practice. The principles not only promote athlete engagement and motivation but also enhance problem-solving skills and support the development of ‘intelligent performers’

🖐Who should read this?

Anybody that is interested in improving their practice design should read this paper. The principles are grounded in an Ecological Dynamics approach. It will allow coaches to use some of the principles to enhance the design of their practices.

🎾 How the paper will influence my coaching

• I need to start introducing more elements of co-design and customisation in practice. The will need to start off a bit structured. Even simple things like giving choices over where they start etc. -The way that we chose to introduce elements of co-design to our sessions is really important. I usually start by ‘directed choice’. This is where I give a choice between two options that I think would benefit the player. For example, giving a choice what type of modified tennis balls they would like to use for the warm up.
• There are a number of different aspects to becoming an ‘intelligent’ performer. “An intelligent performer is an adaptive, engaged and motivated individual who learns quickly and relies on perceptions, cognitions, emotions, and actions to function effectively in a specific environment”-Becoming an "intelligent" performer involves several key elements. It’s really important that if our goal is to develop these ‘intelligent’ performers that we are keep these different elements in mind when designing our sessions.
• Give athletes more choice on when they can receive the feedback and how they can use the feedback to guide their actions straight away. - This is an area that I need to focus more on in my own sessions and a very important part of the co-design process.