The Video Coach—Reflections on the Use of ICT in High-Performance Sport

Abstract

Success in sport relies on access to high-quality coaching, yet in many sports organisations—particularly those with limited financial resources—access to coaching expertise can be problematic. Although coaching capability may exist within a sports organisation, access to and retention of coaching staff for high-performance teams can be inconsistent and dependent on a number of factors, such as conflicts of interest or lucrative contracts. In the current article, a self-study methodology guided an initiative to connect several high-performance kendō athletes and their coach via video calling/conferencing technologies. Termed the “Video Coach,” a description of the methods used is provided to demonstrate the ways in which easily accessible technologies can enable consistency in the coach–athlete exchange. The “Video Coach” approach has potential application at a high-performance level where the face-to-face exchange between coach and athlete(s) is limited; however, the initial findings suggest that success requires rapport and pedagogical skills that ensure athletes benefit from the experience.