Questioning Approaches - Contexts
Questioning approaches to coaching can be powerful in handing power over to players and helping them build their own understanding. It is important to consider using different approaches for different contexts.
Questioning approaches to coaching can be powerful in handing power over to players and helping them build their own understanding. It is important to consider using different approaches for different contexts.
When employing questioning approaches, often our 'go to' is to use whole group / team scenarios. This often looks like a big ‘hug fest’ when the team gathers around and the coach asks questions, often for only 3 or 4 players to contribute. These players are generally the leaders and more confident players. Consider alternative approaches (see below).
To get buy-in around this approach, you will also need to foster a ‘culture of trust.’ If players don’t feel safe to answer and free of judgement, they may not engage with answering questions. Here we explore alternative approaches to increase engagement, which will depend on the purpose and context you operate within.
WHOLE GROUP
Commonly, coaches will give instructions, feedback and apply questioning approaches with the entire squad. This is a good place to start. Generally, fewer players will contribute, although they may still be engaged by listening to other perspectives. Consider who the message / questioning is for. If it is for everyone then a whole group approach may be relevant.
SMALL GROUP
This generally fosters more confidence for your players to speak up and provide ideas. This can work well:
Within Small-Sided Games: Allowing players to problem-solve with their mini-teams where they are provided a question to discuss. The question should relate to the higher-level purpose. For example, “how can we create more scoring opportunities?”
With Positional Needs: It can be effective to group players based on their position (if relevant), so conversations can be focussed around specific needs (such as forwards, backs, loose forwards, inside backs, leadership group etc...).
PAIRS
A good tool to use to encourage all players to contribute and/or provide peer feedback. Get athletes to chat in pairs and use a relevant question to focus their conversation. For example, “What are we looking to achieve with this activity?” Consider if you want athletes to feed back.
INDIVIDUAL / 1v1
Players absolutely thrive on individual attention and feedback (just like our own kids). Consider how you and your coaching group can implement this more often. Consider how you can work with individual players, without disturbing the flow of the game or practice.
