The Effect of a Coaching Clinic on Student-Coaches’ Behavior During a Basketball Sport Education Season With Preservice Teachers

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate (a) if a coaching clinic (CC) impacted student-coaches’ behavior and academic learning time during a basketball Sport Education season and (b) if 3v3 game performance improved as a function of the coaching clinic. Method: Preservice teachers (n = 85) were randomly assigned to a CC or a comparison group and taught a 16-lesson Sport Education-based basketball season. The CC group received a coaching clinic in which student-coaches were introduced to core instructional skills, including task organization, task presentation, and delivering congruent feedback. Results: For both groups, coaching time significantly increased from 11.5% to 34.1%, p = .02, as well as cognitive learner involvement, p < .01. CC coaches provided significantly more demonstrations, p < .02. Players in the CC group had significantly greater improvement in 3v3 game play, p = .01. Conclusion: The clinic positively impacted student-coaches’ demonstrations, which likely contributed to improved 3v3 performance.