Relationships and the uptake of game sense by elite rugby coaches in Australia and New Zealand

As a coaching innovation Game Sense challenges traditional beliefs about coaching practices and this has limited uptake in elite level sport (Light, 2006). Its implementation presents a range of challenges for coaches including the use of questioning to make it player centred and the way in which it requires a very different relationship between the coach and the players to the dominant, directive, 'traditional' approaches due to the use of dialogue instead of the coach's monologue. While there has been some attention paid to meeting the challenges of effective questioning in the physical education and coaching literature (see for example, Wright &Forrest 2007; Roberts 2010) the change in relationships has received little attention in the coaching literature. This study contributes toward the development of knowledge regarding Game Sense and how it is influenced by the relationships that elite level rugby coaches establish with players in Australia and New Zealand. Using a case study approach it focuses on eight elite level rugby coaches in Australia and New Zealand. Data were generated through a series of interviews and observations conducted in 2007 and 2008 in Australia and New ZealandThis study contributes toward the development of knowledge regarding Game Sense and how it is influenced by the relationships that elite level rugby coaches establish with players in Australia and New Zealand. Using a case study approach it focuses on eight elite level rugby coaches in Australia and New Zealand. Data were generated through a series of interviews and observations conducted in 2007 and 2008 in Australia and New Zealand.