ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF COACHING CHILDREN IN SPORT “Beyond other resources, the Routledge Handbook of Coaching Children in Sport provides a contemporary overview of a wide-range of key topic areas associated with coaching children in sport. This book provides a breadth and depth of child-specific coaching content like no other, and is therefore important reading for students, researchers and practitioners interested (or working) in child and youth sport.” – Ed Cope, Loughborough University, UK The Routledge Handbook of Coaching Children in Sport provides a comprehensive and extensive range of critical reflections of key areas impacting on children’s sport and coaching up to the age of 16. With coaching related chapters authored by academic across various disciplines, including nutrition, psychology, pedagogy, medicine, youth development and sociology, the text provides detailed reviews of the existing state of research and consideration of the implications of these particular factors upon parents, coaches, administrators and clearly the young people themselves as well as recommendations for future research. This new volume provides in-depth investigation to key topics of coaching topics such as Learning and Child Development, Protecting Young Athletes, Talent Identification and Development and Inclusive Coaching and finally introduce a broad array of contextual considerations for coaches from considering professional learning through to coaching in particular contexts. This book is more than simply an academic text and it offers insights that will further inform practice in children’s sport coaching. The handbook is relevant for students (UG, PG), researchers, academics, parents, coaches and administrators, as well as those interested in children’s sport coaching and the related topics therein. Martin Toms, PhD is a senior lecturer (associate professor) in the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham, UK. A former professional sports coach with an MPhil and PhD exploring the sociological issues of young people in junior sport, Martin has been heavily involved in juniors sport all of his adult life. He has published widely and presented extensively around the world on youth sport, including working on international projects and for NBGs/Federations and National Governmental organisations. He has gained European and SCUK funding for youth and coaching related projects as well as being involved in international consultancy. He is a co-editor of the European Journal for Sport and Society as well as the current Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Golf Science. Ruth Jeanes, PhD is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at Monash University, Australia. Ruth’s research examines inclusion and exclusion within youth sport, particularly examining how sport can be used to achieve broader social policy objectives targeted at young people. Within this, she is particularly interested in the role of coaches in facilitating broader social outcomes for young people. Ruth has published extensively in these areas with over 100 publications across journal articles, book chapters and books. She is widely cited and has been successful in securing extensive funding for her research including two highly competitive Australian Research Council grants. ROUTLEDGE RESEARCH IN SPORTS COACHING The Routledge Research in Sports Coaching series provides a platform for leading experts and emerging academics in this important discipline to present ground-breaking work on the history, theory, practice and contemporary issues of sports coaching. The series sets a new benchmark for research in sports coaching, and offers a valuable contribution to the wider sphere of sports studies. Available in this series: Professional Advances in Sport Coaching Research and Practice Edited by Richard Thelwell and Matt Dicks Athlete Learning in Elite Sport A Cultural Framework Edited by Natalie Barker-Ruchti Sport Coaching with Diverse Populations Theory and Practice Edited by James Wallis and John Lambert Birth Advantages and Relative Age Effects in Sport Exploring Organizational Structures and Creating Appropriate Settings Edited by Adam L. Kelly, Jean Côté, Mark Jeffreys, and Jennifer Turnnidge Complexity in Games Teaching and Coaching A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective Felix Lebed Coach Education in Football Contemporary Issues and Global Perspectives Edited by Thomas M. Leeder For more information about this series, please visit: https://www.routledge.com/Routledge- Research-in-Sports-Coaching/book-series/RRSC ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF COACHING CHILDREN IN SPORT Edited by Martin Toms and Ruth Jeanes Cover image: FatCamera First published 2023 by Routledge 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 and by Routledge 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2023 selection and editorial matter, Martin Toms and Ruth Jeanes; individual chapters, the contributors The right of Martin Toms and Ruth Jeanes to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. ISBN: 978-1-032-05819-1 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-032-05820-7 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-003-19935-9 (ebk) DOI: 10.4324/9781003199359 Typeset in Bembo by MPS Limited, Dehradun CONTENTS List of Figures x List of Tables xi Acknowledgements xiii List of Contributors xiv Introduction 1 Martin Toms and Ruth Jeanes SECTION I Learning and Skill Development 3 Introduction: Martin Toms and Ruth Jeanes 1 Coaching Children in Sport: A Focus on Learning 5 Justen P. O’Connor 2 Coaching Pedagogy 16 Shane Pill and Brendan SueSee 3 Developmental Considerations for Coaching Preschooler Sport 27 Jessica Fraser-Thomas and Meghan Harlow 4 Supporting the Development of Sporting Creativity in Children through an Enskilment Approach 40 Carl T. Woods, James Rudd, and Sam Robertson 5 To Have Fun: What It Means and Its Significance in Sport 51 Amanda J. Visek, Andreas Ivarsson, Gary Putt, and Jordyn L. Learner v Contents 6 Creativity-Enhancing Approaches in the Coaching of Children in Sport: Present and Future Directions 62 Ludvig Johan Torp Rasmussen and Niels Nygaard Rossing 7 Coaching Psychological and Life Skills through Sport: Advancing the Contemporary Coaching Agenda 73 Chris Harwood, Sam Thrower, Sara Kramers, and Paul Wylleman 8 Exploring Contextual Factors Influencing Positive Development through Sport 84 Leisha Strachan, Jessica Fraser-Thomas, Nickolas Kosmenko, and Craig Brown 9 Transitions in Child and Youth Sport 94 Rochelle Eime 10 The Role of the Coach in Player Retention and Attrition 102 Deborah Agnew and Shane Pill SECTION II Protecting Child Athletes 111 Introduction: Ruth Jeanes and Martin Toms 11 Preparing Children for Sport: The Importance of Athletic Development 113 Rhodri S. Lloyd, Sylvia Moeskops, and Jon L. Oliver 12 Sport Readiness and Injury Prevention in Young Athletes: Current Recommendations on When to Enter, Compete and Specialise in Sport 127 Michelle Mullins, Emma Cronk, and Neeru Jayanthi 13 Nutrition Considerations for Children in Sport 135 Jennifer Hamer 14 Sports-Related Concussions in Children 146 Casey Wagner, Jeff Webb, Brandon Mines, and Pooja Sharma 15 Disordered Eating in Child and Youth Sport: The Role of the Coach 156 Anthony Papathomas, Maria Luisa Fernanda Pereira Vargas, and Erin Prior 16 Parental Involvement in Organised Youth Sport 165 Camilla J. Knight, Sam Elliott, Olivier Y. Rouquette, James Maurice, and Rachael A. Newport vi Contents 17 Making the Cut: Coaches and the Deselection of Young Athletes 175 Kacey C. Neely and James H. Dugdale 18 Mental Health and Coaching Children in Sport 185 Andy Smith and Kenny Greenough 19 Child’s Play? Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport 195 Melanie Lang and Laura G Purdy 20 Coaching Care-Experienced Children and Young People in Sport 204 Thomas Quarmby, Rachel Sandford, and Oliver Hooper SECTION III Talent Identification and Development 213 Introduction: Martin Toms and Ruth Jeanes 21 Coaching Elite Junior Athletes 215 Frode Moen, Stig Arve Sæther, and John Anders Bjørkøy 22 What Makes Champions? Childhood Multi-Sport Practice Facilitates Long-Term Performance Development 225 Arne Güllich, Michael Barth, Brooke N. Macnamara, and David Z. Hambrick 23 The Impact of Growth and Maturation upon Children’s Participation in Sport and Physical Activity 238 Sean Cumming 24 Digging for Diamonds? The Abstract and Questionable Nature of Talent Identification in Children’s Sport 250 Kathryn Johnston, Nick Wattie, and Joseph Baker 25 The Child and Adolescent Sport Dropout Problem: Could Modifying the Coaching Micro-System Climate Help? 260 Stephen Cobley and Kylie Moulds 26 Psycho-Social Maturation and the Implications for Coaching Children 274 Fieke Rongen, Ian Cowburn, Sergio Lara-Bercial, Tom Mitchell, and David Piggott 27 Integrating Specificity and Generality of Practice to Enrich Children’s Learning in Sport 284 Martyn Rothwell, James Rudd, and Keith Davids vii Contents 28 Sampling and Specialising in Children’s Sport: Implications for Research and Coaching Practice 293 Colin D. McLaren, Mark W. Bruner, Alex Murata, Luc J. Martin, and Jean Côté 29 Group Banding Strategies in Children’s Organised Sport: Looking beyond Fixed Chronological Age 303 Adam L. Kelly and Jennifer Turnnidge SECTION IV Diversity and Inclusion 315 Introduction: Ruth Jeanes and Martin Toms 30 Children’s Rights and Sports Coaching 317 Peter Donnelly and Gretchen Kerr 31 Coaching Disabled Children: A Brief Look Around and Forward 327 Robert C. Townsend 32 “I Treat Every Player Equally”: Coaching Culturally Diverse Children in Sport 335 Brent McDonald 33 Addressing the Needs of Indigenous Children?: Coach Education Programs in Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Australia 345 Andrew Bennie, Jeremy Hapeta, Dan Henhawk, and Audrey R. Giles 34 Coaching Children and Youth with Refugee Backgrounds 356 Carla Luguetti, Christopher Hudson, and Ramón Spaaij 35 Towards a Critical Inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual Youth in Coaching Contexts 365 Dawn E. Trussell, Kyle A. Rich, and Jake Quinton 36 Exploring the Implications of Ability in Children’s Sport 374 Tania Cassidy 37 Social Justice Organisations, Community Sport and Coaching Children 383 Matthew Atencio, E. Missy Wright, Duke Austin, Carl Stempel, and Christina Rodriguez viii Contents SECTION V Cultures and Context 393 Introduction: Martin Toms and Ruth Jeanes 38 Coaching Children and Youth Sport Policy 395 Anna-Maria Strittmatter, Iain Lindsey, Jimmy O’Gorman, and John Hayton 39 Volunteering in Children’s Sport: From Motivation to Child Protection 405 Matheus Galdino, Sebastian Gehrmann, and Pamela Wicker 40 Retaining Volunteer Coaches in Child and Youth Sport 412 Haley Baxter and Katie E. Misener 41 The Digital Sideline: What Coaches Need to Know about Children’s Engagement with Social Media 421 Victoria A. Goodyear, Mark Griffiths, Jonathon McKeever, and Gary Priest 42 A Space to Play: The Geographies of Children’s Sport and Physical Activities 429 Catherine Waite 43 The Learning Cultures of Informal Self-Organised Action Sports: Implications for Child and Youth Coaching 440 Belinda Wheaton and Robert C. Townsend 44 Scaling Children’s Sport to Augment Motor Skill Acquisition 452 Tim Buszard, Machar Reid, and Damian Farrow 45 Learning to Coach Children in Sport 465 Brian Gearity and Clayton Kuklick Index 477 ix