Performance Coaching: the discipline where the biological and behavioural sciences are integrated within a coaching environment to support athletes’ preparation, performance, and welfare within their chosen sport or physical activity.

Sport attainment and human performance endeavour operate within a fast-moving environment. Every sport and physical exercise related activity constantly reaches out to science and the art of coaching to enable its participants perform to their utmost.

In recent decades, we have seen the emergence of heart rate monitors and physiological sensors, the rise of GPS tracking, smart movement sensing clothing and wearables, computer analytics software, force, velocity and power output measurement, the internet of things related to performance, wellness and participant welfare, and many more innovations.

The growing presence of technology within sport and exercise performance is here to stay and this poses a number of challenges for us as coaches. We need to constantly keep abreast of changes in technology while we also seek to hone the ‘softer’ skills that are essential in communicating, managing, and coaching.

Technology aside, actual coaching skills required to make meaningful change, that result in better performance and welfare of the participant, need to be addressed. And therein lies the challenge; to bridge the gaps between the competencies to appropriately apply technology and advances in methodologies with the ‘softer’ skills to competently and effectively manage and coach.

In the webinar below, we provide a detailed outline on the Setanta College Master of Science in Performance Coaching, and how this programme helps to bridge the gap between the art of science and coaching.