Research tool 002
Coaching Baseline.
A simple protocol for making minimum coaching standards visible, observable and coachable across different sports.
Use this when
Different teams offer noticeably different athlete experiences.
You are relying on individual coaches to interpret what good coaching means.
Family or athlete concerns appear before internal review catches the issue.
Coach induction explains logistics better than professional expectations.
Protocol
Make the standard explicit. Then use it.
Define
Agree five observable coaching practices that should be true across every sport and team.
Describe
For each practice, write what strong delivery looks like in concrete language rather than slogans.
Induct
Use the baseline in coach induction so expectations are explicit before delivery begins.
Observe
Sample practice through short observations, athlete voice or review conversations. Look for patterns, not isolated mistakes.
Coach
Use the same baseline for feedback and development so improvement conversations are anchored to shared standards.
Baseline canvas
| Non-negotiable | What good looks like | How we will observe it | Who owns feedback | Review date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Keep the baseline short. If a coach cannot remember the standards or a leader cannot observe them, they are too abstract.
Contribute to the wider research