10,000 hours? Learning styles? Coaches need to be cruel to be kind? Coaches should have previous elite competing experience? Parental involvement? Coaching female athletes is different?

Sport Coaching is complex and multi-faceted, and the role of the coach involves an unlimited number of theories and responsibilities. With this, comes a plethora of information on how to coach effectively and what we should be aware of as coaches.

Sometimes this information can become 'muddied' and misconstrued. This book aims to unpick some of the key ideas, practices and messages within the domain and determine what credible research has actually concluded.

Myths of Sport Coaching is written by leading international researchers and practitioners and offers invaluable theoretical and practical guidance, debunking some common myths and misconceptions in an engaging and informative way.

The book supports an evidence-based practice approach and is an important companion for all those learning through sport and hopefully to reflect critically on the way you operate within your sport.

Each chapter contains a QR code to a video from the chapter author and this connection introduces the wonderful people we share this book with and their passion.

We hope this book helps you demystify some of the challenges you are facing on your journey.

1.Myths about Deliberate Practice

Edward Coughlan

2. The Science of Fun in Sport: Fact over Fiction

Amanda J. Visek & Anna Feiler

3. Communities of Practice: Common Misconceptions

Diane M. Culver, Tiago Duarte, and Don Vinson

4.A 'Fundamental' Myth of Movement with a 'Functional' Solution

James R Rudd, Jonathan D Foulkes, Mark O'Sullivan, and Carl T. Woods

5.The Stepping Stone?: Challenging the Myth that Women's Sport

is Less Significant than Men's Sport

Ali Bowes

6.Myths about Learning Styles in Sport Coach Education

Anna Stodter

7.Common Misconceptions about Parental Involvement in Youth Sport: Insights for coaches

Sam Elliott

8.Coaching is a 24­ hour ­a ­day job

Brendan Cropley, Sheldon Hanton, & Lee Baldock

9.10,000 hours and Early Specialization: Short­ term Gains or Long­

term Pain?

Jody McGowan, Simon Walters, and Chris Whatman

10.They Really Are 'a Different Kettle of Fish': Myths Surrounding

the 'Effective Coaching' of the Female Athlete

Luke Jones & Zoë Avner

11.Common Sport and Exercise nutrition Myths Encountered by Coaches and Athletes

Liz Mahon, Claire Blennerhassett, & Andy Sparks

12.Reflection is 'Wholly Beneficial' for Coaches

Lauren Downham & Chris Cushion

13.Do you have to walk it to talk it? The significance of an elite athletic career in becoming a high­ performance coach in men's football and rugby union

Alexander D. Blackett

14.'Questioning in Coaching Leads to Learning': A Deconstruction of Questioning

Mark Partington

15.The Evolving Role of the Sport Psychologist and the Myth that

their Sole Role is to 'Fix' Athletes

Laura Swettenham, Kristin McGinty-Minister, & Stewart Bicker

16.Is Goal­ Setting an Effective Way to Improve Athletic Performance?

Laura C. Healy and Desmond McEwan

17.Clutch Plays, Clutch Performances, and Clutch Performers: Separating Myth from Reality

Matthew J. Schweickle & Patricia C. Jackman

18.Caring Coaching: Examining the notion of 'cruel to be kind' and other caring myths

Colum Cronin

19.Psychological Resilience in High­ Performance Athletes: Elucidating Some Common Myths and Misconceptions

Jolan Kegelaers & Mustafa Sarkar

20.The Coach-Athlete Relationship: What Are we Missing from the Sociocultural Context

Christopher R. D. Wagstaff