Developing a Coaching Portfolio: Enhancing Reflective Practice

A portfolio is a well-organized document containing critical analyses and evidence related to a coach's background, context(s) of coaching, approach to coaching, coaching accomplishments, and goals for further development. Here, the authors describe different types of coaching portfolios as well as strategies for developing a coaching portfolio. In their research with youth soccer coaches and sport leaders from a wide range of physical activity settings, they found that coaching portfolios encourage coaches to dialogue with one another, practice reflection, pursue professional development goals, and use player-focused portfolios with their own teams. Among other things, they mention that there are drawbacks to developing and using coaching portfolios. (Contains 3 tables.)