Evolution of a Systematic Observation System: The ASU Coaching Observation Instrument

Abstract

The analysis of teaching behavior in t he teaching-learning environment i s an important process i n evaluating and improving those behaviors. I n recent years researchers have tu rned the i r attention t o observing the teaching behaviors of coaches i n the athletic sett ing i n order t o better understand t he science of coaching. The purpose of th is art ic le is t o introduce and discuss a systematic observation instrument for collecting data on coaching behaviors. This observational system, called the Arizona State Universi ty (ASU) Observation Instrument, is designed mainly f o r observing the behaviors of coaches, b u t could also be used f o r observing teachers i n physical education settings.