The foci of in-action professional judgement and decision-making in high-level adventure sports coaching practice

Abstract

This paper continues a theme of previous investigations by the authors and examined the focus of in-action reflection as a component of professional judgement and decision making (PJDM) processes in high level adventure sports coaching. We utilised a thematic analysis approach to investigate the decision-making practices of a sample of high level adventure sports coaches over a series of sessions. It was discovered that adventure sports coaches utilise a combination of questioning and observation to collect and constantly verify the information that forms the basis of their PJDM. Each coach responds to matters of immediate security, collecting information until a best fit decision can be made regarding changes to environment, task, or individual. Implications for professional training, accreditation, and development are presented against these data, offering a template for a more expertise-focused progression in the adventure sports coaching profession.