Every practice is a simulation: Lots to learn from our coaches

By Heather Carnahan, Dean and Professor, School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University
& Peter Benoit, Head Coach, Sea-Hawks Men’s Basketball, Memorial University

In the School of Human Kinetics and Recreation at Memorial University, kinesiology researchers and coaches from Sea-Hawks Athletics are working together to understand how to optimize performance in high stakes game situations. For example, as part of a post-game debriefing session, our coaches have been using SportsCode video analysis software to identify good performances as well as errors in team execution. SportsCode also allows our coaches to provide individualized feedback to players. Both positive and negative clips can be brought together to help players recognize the errors they are producing consistently, and to validate to the players through video demonstration, the coaches verbal feedback. This video review takes place under the supervision of the coach, and virtually, where athletes can download their edited videos to engage in their own analysis of their performances. We are currently collaborating on a program of research to understand how the errors generated during practice are related to the errors generated during game situations.

Why is this relevant to the health professions education community? There is emerging literature on the importance of coaching in health professions education.  There is also a longstanding literature on coaching best practices within the sports community.  There is much that can be learned from sport coaches ranging from how they develop talent, facilitate group dynamics, apply theories of motor learning to skill development, to training individuals and teams to achieve optimal levels of performance in high stakes situations.

While some learning takes place on game day, much of the athlete’s learning takes place during practice. While the language of simulation is not often used in the sports context, during practice, simulations of game play are executed and feedback is provided, using technology such as SportscCode.  Our research into how this feedback is best delivered, and how it relates to performance in the game or “real life” situation should have application to the type of training taking place in the simulation centre where health professionals are trained. It is hoped that a dialogue between the sports and health professions domains will be opened. We have much to learn from each other.