Performance vs. development coaching? Considering practice in domains of practice: a research-informed framework

Over time, sport coaching has developed distinct domains of practice to address the diverse needs of participants, with a common distinction often made between the coaching domains of development and performance. As a reflection for practice, we suggest that this delineation is entirely appropriate to frame the role, employment, deployment and development of the coach. However, from a practical perspective, this distinction oversimplifies the complexity of coaching, with practice often requiring differential emphasis on development or performance-regardless of domain. In this sense, a more developmental approach might be oriented towards the longer-term needs of individuals and groups, while a more performance-oriented stance might focus on narrower and shorter-term needs. Tackling this dilemma of practice, we present implications for the coaches navigating these dynamics within and across domains of practice. Additionally, to address this common dilemma of practice, we present a research-informed framework-centred around the concept of proximity to performance-to support coaches working with these dynamics across domains.